Escape from New York

Carpenter’s famous cult movie didn’t work on me. The atmosphere is fine, Russell is tough as nails, but the very premise of Manhattan as a prison (that was set up god knows why) is very silly. I know looking for logic in films of this kind is nonsense, but in Escape from New York all those inconsistencies were way too evident. (07/07/2011)

A typical, distinctive Carpenter film, as only he can do it. The low budget and the associated minimalism are enough to play a solid B-movie etude about one tough guy who stood up to everyone and fucked them all up... Kurt Russell is a man par excellence, who needs little to satisfy similarly-minded fans - the pissed-off face, synth music, and an hour and a half-long sequence of tense scenes that can be described in several pages of genre textbooks today. 4 ½. (05/16/2008)

Escape from New York is a great example of what an inventive director can achieve with little money. No wonder the film has become a model for many low-budget filmmakers (including Robert Rodriguez). One of the most striking aspects of Carpenter's iconic low-budget film is the surprisingly elaborate production design. The impressive drawings of a ruined New York City were done by a then-unknown James Cameron, who got his start in filmmaking as a production designer. Carpenter wrote the original version of the script back in the 1970s in response to the Watergate affair, and the cynicism of the time is evident in every inch of the film. Snake Plissken is the quintessential individualistic anti-hero. He once fought for his country, but circumstances forced him to turn against authority. He has become a renegade and an outlaw who cares only for himself, while still being more human than many of the characters around him. Casting Kurt Russell (at the time known for family films) was a big risk, but it worked out perfectly. Russell's minimalist acting, stone-faced, quiet voice and slow gait are reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's nameless gunslinger roles. And the film is essentially a kind of futuristic western. New York, which here functions as a prison without guards where the inmates create their own world, is reminiscent of the Wild West in a way, and legendary western actor Lee Van Cleef plays one of the supporting roles. (06/22/2013)

Carpenter’s precise B-movie hit demands that you not think about the wider context of the story and instead adapt to the requirements of low-brow entertainment, but the director will pay you back with interest. Kurt Russell is great and is accompanied by a host of top-acting talent and, despite the occasional silliness, this is pure filmmaking that, even within its premise, can be taken pretty seriously. The uncontrolled “trash” fun will come with the sequel. 75% (03/24/2020)

Typical John Carpenter’s madness set in an insanely looking New York as big prison, with tasteless and uninspiring action scenes, and characters that look like they've just had a stroke. The whole thing looks like one big fetish flick. We have a boxing ring, pseudo-futuristic machines, the World Trade Center, where a glider can land, all of that crowned by a tough and taciturn hero played by Kurt Russell, whom everyone knows and nobody calls anything other than Snake. It's crazy nonsense, but entertaining at times. The script is practically nonexistent and the plot is also nothing special. The only thing that stands out is precisely the cheapness and wackiness of the whole project, which is basically Carpenter's main weapon to impress the audience. (07/13/2006)