Review of Escape from New York (1981) by Kristian M — 05 Feb 2011

John Carpenter has always been a reliable director, his ability to create rising tension and sinister tone from careful composition and expertly judged set pieces is masterful. Escape From New York is no exception - though low-budget it builds its world with great economy, using stylised sets and well chosen locations. With a few imaginative and striking set pieces he lets the audience fill in the blanks. There is an eerie quality to the silent, empty streets and a ravaged beauty in Carpenter's direction. His compositions are strong and minimal, his direction lean; he has complete control over the material.

Dean Cundey's lighting is phenomenal, using flame, streetlamps or simulated moonlight to create shifting shadows characters can walk through or fall into, and adds greatly to the sinister atmosphere.

Kurt Russell, as anti-hero Snake Plissken, has never looked better, in prime physical condition, and he swaggers through with a macho stoicism. Ernest Borgnine is nice comic relief as a cabbie, and Isaac Hayes is memorably fearsome as the thuggish Duke of New York.

However, apart from the final chase scene there isn't a great deal of action, it's relatively plotless, there's no character development and it is very slowly paced. There are some interesting and colourful diversions along the way but it's unfortunate that the whole film has the same flat tone. It's dated and definitely a product of its time, but this is far more intriguing than the latest B-grade Hollywood blockbuster or silly, low-brow comedy.