It’s 1997 (!) Air Force One has gone down in New York which is now a maximum security prison. But the powers that be have a man who may be able to get the President out in one piece- war hero turned convict, Snake Plissken.

There’s plenty to love about Escape From New York, whether it’s the brilliant concept, the scope and look of the film or the soundtrack (one of Carpenters best, which is really saying something). The all-star are also uniformly brilliant.

But, the thing I love the most is the introduction of one of the greatest characters I’ve ever seen on the screen. Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken is the ultimate anti-hero- a loner who is anti-authority, speaks almost exclusively in brilliant one-liners and knows how to fight. I can’t imagine anyone else playing him apart from a younger Clint Eastwood perhaps.

Escape was a huge hit at the box office before it got a second wind via the new medium of home video. But pan and scan is no way to see the film. Thank God for home cinema and 4K. I had the privilege of seeing it on the big screen a few years ago and it was a great experience. Don’t miss this gem.

4.5 out of 5 stars