Escape From New York (1981): Snake Plissken, the Anti-hero for the Authoritarian Future

Why was Escape From New York an influential science-fiction film?Now we're talking --  Escape From New York is the next movie in my John Carpenter series, and it's one of my favorites from his filmography.Teaming up with collaborators like actor Kurt Russell, producer Debra Hill, cinematographer Dean Cundey, and many more, Carpenter presents a bleak vision of a future that seems all too relevant in our current political climate.When the president is taken captive on the now-prison formerly known as New York, it's up to former WWIII soldier, now outlaw, Snake Plissken to swoop in and rescue him.And to make matters worse, Snake has 24 hours to make the rescue or, thanks to the explosives lodged in his neck, die trying.Join me for this episode as we discuss what makes this highly influential film still worth your time today, as well as its lasting legacy in cinema and beyond.Starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrienne Barbeau.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com