Rent Escape from New York (1981)

Cult SciFi - Great Stuff - Escape from New York review by GI

John Carpenters cult sci-fi thriller still entertains even though in many respects it hasn't aged well. Viewed as an alternative future story where a dystopian USA, heavily crime ridden, with the world in the throes of a world war, is now a fascist state. To cope with crime there is now only one prison, a walled in Manhattan island, with a heavy security force surrounding it and one rule, "Once you go in, you never come out". When the President's plane crashes inside the prison the Security boss, Hauk (Lee van Cleef) has to send in former special forces soldier Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), who is a new prisoner just arrived, with a promise of freedom if he gets the president back. There's a time clock running to add to the tension. Plenty of gritty action and chases through the rubbish strewn streets at night before the hero gets captured and has to battle to escape. Russell, here shaking off his Disney persona and channelling a Clint Eastwood impersonation, has managed to create a hugely memorable character, a classic American anti-hero. " Call me Snake" has become one of the most famous quotable lines in this superbly fun film. It's actually set in 1997, hence the need to view it as an alternative future, and the technology on display is very dated but once you get past that this is a film all about an iconic character facing insurmountable odds to win the day. Carpenter brings in horror aspects with his depiction of the world inside the prison, with 'crazies' who live in the sewers and other weird and violent aspects including the dangers of driving down Broadway! In many ways this is a satire on America, the fear of the night and gang culture. Veteran British actor Donald Pleasance plays the President as a cowardly narcissist and Harry Dean Stanton is great as a prisoner that is forced to choose sides. The film boasts Ernest Borgnine and Isaac Hayes as the main baddie. This is one of Carpenter's best films and definitely a must see, and you'll hum the theme music for days afterwards.