Escape from New York is proof positive that you don't need a blockbuster budget to deliver blockbuster thrills. This is a movie that stands unflinchingly proud next to other classic action movies, and is not hampered in the least by its B-Movie roots. There are no distracting side plots or meandering diversions here; Escape does its one thing very well, which is to deliver a gripping tale of Snake Plisskin's insane mission in the heart of a city-sized penitentary. And because Snake Plisskin is clearly not an unstoppable killing machine or a one-man army, the tension is kept high throughout the film.
With such a focused plot, Escape is a movie that would live or die on the skill of its lead actor. Fortunately, Kurt Russell delivers in spades, giving Snake Plisskin a nuanced persona that makes him more than just a stereotypical Badass. Russell plays Plisskin as an embittered Anti-Hero with just enough flaws and vulnerabilities to earn the audience's sympathy, making him a dim beam of heroism in an otherwise dismal Crapsack World. He's nominally balanced by USPF Commissioner Bob Hawk, but really, the movie rides as well as it does solely on the strength of Russell's acting chops.
To be fair, Escape is not a perfect movie, but its flaws are strictly technical limitations of its low budget. East St. Louis and St. Louis are merely passable substitutes for a desolated Manhattan, some of the gangsters' outfits verge on the edge of parody, and it's clear that the special effects crew are trying their best with what little they have. But none of this matters — between a solid script, solid directing and cinematography, and Snake Plisskin's overwhelming machismo, Escape From New York is a riveting adventure that should not be missed.
An A-Movie Thriller on a B-Movie Budget
Escape from New York is proof positive that you don't need a blockbuster budget to deliver blockbuster thrills. This is a movie that stands unflinchingly proud next to other classic action movies, and is not hampered in the least by its B-Movie roots. There are no distracting side plots or meandering diversions here; Escape does its one thing very well, which is to deliver a gripping tale of Snake Plisskin's insane mission in the heart of a city-sized penitentary. And because Snake Plisskin is clearly not an unstoppable killing machine or a one-man army, the tension is kept high throughout the film.
With such a focused plot, Escape is a movie that would live or die on the skill of its lead actor. Fortunately, Kurt Russell delivers in spades, giving Snake Plisskin a nuanced persona that makes him more than just a stereotypical Badass. Russell plays Plisskin as an embittered Anti-Hero with just enough flaws and vulnerabilities to earn the audience's sympathy, making him a dim beam of heroism in an otherwise dismal Crapsack World. He's nominally balanced by USPF Commissioner Bob Hawk, but really, the movie rides as well as it does solely on the strength of Russell's acting chops.
To be fair, Escape is not a perfect movie, but its flaws are strictly technical limitations of its low budget. East St. Louis and St. Louis are merely passable substitutes for a desolated Manhattan, some of the gangsters' outfits verge on the edge of parody, and it's clear that the special effects crew are trying their best with what little they have. But none of this matters — between a solid script, solid directing and cinematography, and Snake Plisskin's overwhelming machismo, Escape From New York is a riveting adventure that should not be missed.