ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

The year is 1997. In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison. When the US president crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken. But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted in his neck will end Snake’s mission, unless he succeeds.

The iconic one-eyed antihero and ultimate urban commando, Snake Plissken on his first outing in John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic action cult classic, boasting a legendary cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton … What more could you possibly want?

“Escape From New York, which opens today at Loew’s State One and other theaters, is by far Mr. Carpenter’s most ambitious, most riveting film to date. Set in the not-too-distant future (1997), the film works so effectively as a warped vision of ordinary urban blight that it seems to be some kind of hallucinatory editorial. It may even remind you a little bit of Alphaville, if Alphaville had been directed not by Jean-Luc Godard but by Federico Fellini in an uncharacteristically antic mood. Its economy of style, though, would do credit to Don Siegel. /…/ It’s a toughly told, very tall tale, one of the best escape (and escapist) movies of the season.”
– Vincent Canby, The New York Times

“Dark and dangerous.”
– Newsweek

“Stylish and scary.”
– Los Angeles Times

“Gloriously fun.”
– Tyler Morning Telegraph