Review of Escape from New York (1981) by Danny R — 04 Dec 2011

An imaginative dark cult classic and one of John Carpenter's finest films, starring Kurt Russell in a superlative performance as the iconic genre bad-ass Snake Plissken, a notorious one-eyed master criminal and former Special Forces war hero who is coerced into a dangerous and daring rescue mission into Manhattan island which has been converted into a walled super-maximum security prison for the entire country that houses the most brutal and murderous convicts in America.

Air Force One with the President of the Untied States, wonderfully played by the late great British character actor Donald Pleasence abroad has been hijacked by a lone anti-government suicidal rebel, the President has ejected from the plane in a escape pod when it crashed inside that forbidding prison where he is instantly taken hostage by an army of thugs who's psychotic leader calls himself The Duke of New York, well played by the late Isaac Hayes, he plans to demand their release in exchange for the President, now Snake must fine the President and a very special cassette tape, but time is running out he has only 24 hours to succeed or two explosive charges planted inside his neck will kill him! He most search whats left of the decayed city and locate and rescue the President with the cassette tape in order to save his own life and get a full pardon.

The film benefits greatly from the exquisite supporting performances by Lee Van Cleff, Ernest Borgnine, Adrienne Barbeau, Harry Dean Stanton and Tom Atkins. Solid direction by John Carpenter, good suspense, marvelous production design by Joe Alves, outstanding pre-CGI visual effects, it's impressive model, miniatures and matte work are by New World's special effects studio in Venice, a vivid electronic score by John Carpenter and a climactic finale chase that will keep you riveted.

A singularly engaging sci-fi action thriller that delivers pure entertainment. Highly Recommended.