Action. Atmosphere. And Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken saying things like, "Sad story.  You got a smoke?"  Do I really need to say any more? 

Escape from New York, from writer/director John Carpenter, is the perfect mix of genres from a director who could do no wrong throughout the 1970s and the 1980s.  It’s a self-confessed B-movie that never trades its stylish wit for an easy target.  While starting to show its age, Escape from New York really is a fine example of exactly why the lone man on a mission trope still works.   This newly polished release on blu-ray, this time from the fine folk over at Scream Factory, makes it shine again.

Set in an imagined 1997, Manhattan is now an island-prison full of humanity’s scum.  Look at the average contents of your kitchen trash can and, well, that’s pretty much what it looks like except populated with all sorts of thugs.  The nation’s crime rate has quadrupled and the government has pretty much given up on making sense of it.  Manhattan is, essentially, a place where no one goes into anymore … but that’s about to change.

The President of the United States (Donald Pleasence), whose hijacked Airforce One “lands” in Manhattan, is currently being held for ransom by The Duke of New York (Isaac Hayes).  Only one man can save him.  Snake Plissken (Russell), who is on his way to a lifetime in jail for a gold heist gone wrong, is convinced by the authorities to go after the President.  To insure both the plan and Snake’s willingness to comply with their orders, the Feds insert an explosive into his neck that will detonate in 24 hours unless he has the President returned where doctors can remove it safely outside of Manhattan.

Forget plausibility, this tightly written narrative fires on all cylinders and features memorable characters like Brain (Harry Dean Stanton), who functions as a demolitions expert, his lover Maggie (Adrienne Barbeau), and a New York cab driver (Ernest Borgnine) finds fuel where none should exist.  The fate of the United States rests on Snake’s shoulders and, yes, we buy into it.

With solid production from Joe Alves, Escape from New York remains popcorn-munching escapism at its most celluloid.  It’s both fun and funny and, even in its weaker moments, flexes some serious guns that directors (like Robert Rodriguez) are still mimicking out of sheer respect to Carpenter.  Sure, the central premise is pretty silly and the special effects by Roger Corman’s crew aren’t quite up to par, but it absolutely works because it never tries to be more than what it is.  Carpenter, to his credit, knew exactly what he wanted and it shows.

Escape from New York, winking with every plot turn, is a film that it’s not hard to think fondly of.  The aces over at Shout Factory do a fine job with this release.

SteelBook / Limited Editon / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - November 5, 2024
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Three-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

A thrilling landmark film that jolts along at a breakneck pace, Escape From New York leapt to cult status with high-octane action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and the mind-blowing vision of lone warrior Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) battling his way out of a post-apocalyptic Manhattan!

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president (Donald Pleasence) 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 – and his life – unless he succeeds!

VIDEO

With StudioCanal providing the 4K treatment, this release shimmies and shakes with all sorts of new resolutions!  The images are crisp and detailed and retain their edges as this post-apocalyptic cult classic gets an overdue upgrade. Framed in a tight 1:85:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer is good, good stuff. Colors are bold.  Shadows run deep and the crisp textures in the walls and in the backgrounds of this slasher are focused.

AUDIO

The Dolby Atmos track brings a whole lot of rumble to the ‘81 shenanigans.  Get ready for the earthquake!

Supplements:

Commentary:

• See below for details

Special Features:

Loaded with lots of commentaries, including one with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell, this release - limited to Shout Factory’s website only - is definitely worth owning!

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY):

• 4K Restoration By StudioCanal
• Dolby Atmos Track
• Restored Original Stereo Track
• Audio Commentary With Director John Carpenter And Actor Kurt Russell
• Audio Commentary With Producer Debra Hill And Production Designer Joe Alves
• Audio Commentary With Actress Adrienne Barbeau And Director Of Photography Dean Cundey
• Trailers From Hell – Filmmaker Neil Marshall On ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
• Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
• Radio Spot

DISC THREE (BLU-RAY):

• Big Challenges In Little Manhattan: The Visual Effects Of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
• Scoring The Escape – A Discussion With Composer Alan Howarth
• On Set With John Carpenter – The Images Of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK With Photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker
• I Am Taylor – An Interview With Actor Joe Unger
• My Night On Set – An Interview With Filmmaker David DeCoteau
• Deleted Scene: The Original Opening Bank Robbery Sequence With Optional Audio Commentary
• Return To Escape From New York Featurette
• Theatrical Trailers
• Photo Galleries – Behind-The-Scenes, Posters And Lobby Cards

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 99 mins
Director: John Carpenter
Writer: John Carpente; rNick Castle
Cast: Kurt Russell; Lee Van Cleef; Ernest Borgnine
Genre: Action | Adventure
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Remember, once you're inside you're on your own."
Theatrical Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Official Site: https://shoutfactory.com/products/escape-from-new-york-collectors-edition-1
Release Date: July 10, 1981
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: November 5, 2024.
Synopsis: In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.