Escape from New York: A look back at the unrepentant absurdity of Eyepatch and Synths (video).
Escape from New York, the classic dystopian cheese-fest that grabbed the 80s by the scruff of the neck and screamed, “Look at me! I’m sci-fi!” This delightfully over-the-top John Carpenter creation showed us a world where Manhattan is a maximum-security prison, Kurt Russell is a bonafide action hero, and the President’s plane can conveniently crash in the most dangerous place in America.
Meet Snake Plissken, the eye-patched anti-hero portrayed by Russell. His name alone lets you know that subtlety had taken a holiday for this film. He’s a former Special Forces operator turned convicted bank robber who’s sent in to rescue the President after Air Force One, against all odds, crashes in New York City’s prison island. The perfect plan, right? Well, if by perfect, you mean completely absurd, then yes.
And yet, despite the ludicrous premise, the film manages to create a captivatingly grim vision of New York City. Streets are cluttered with burned-out cars, buildings are shells of their former selves, and law and order are as extinct as a sense of realism in this film.
Escape from New York presents us with a buffet of memorable side characters. There’s the “Duke of New York,” played by Isaac Hayes, whose charisma and ruthlessness make him one of the most entertaining movie villains of the 80s. Then there’s the Cabbie, portrayed by Ernest Borgnine, whose friendly demeanor, knowledge of the city, and tape deck filled with show tunes make him the best and the weirdest guide one could ask for in a dystopian metropolis.
Carpenter’s atmospheric synth score, Russell’s gruff one-liners, and the overall dingy aesthetic contribute to the film’s unique charm. “Escape from New York” does not apologize for what it is — a post-apocalyptic action flick filled with enough cheese to supply a New York pizzeria. Instead, it embraces it, making the audience chuckle, gasp, and shake their heads in disbelief, all at the same time.
Looking back, we can appreciate the flick as a key example of 80s genre cinema. It’s a film that dared to look at the shiny, high-tech sci-fi of the era and say, “Nope, we’re going grunge.” And while it may not be the most thought-provoking or emotionally resonant film out there, it does provide an unforgettable journey into a dystopian vision of New York that leaves us simultaneously grateful and disappointed that the real 1999 didn’t turn out to be quite so eventful.
