This week in our continuing series of cheesy action films: Escape from New York. I mainly wanted to see it because of Mystery Science Theater 3000's presentation of Escape 2000 ("Leave the Bronx"). Do not confuse with this Escape 2000, which is a rip off of Logan's Run, or Running Man, not Escape from New York.
I haven't watched a lot of John Carpenter, so I always assumed he was a high-budget director of slick horror films. Maybe at some point in his career, but it seems he has a knack for cheap shockers that don't take themselves too seriously. This was meant to be one of those.
But when a terrorist highjacks President Donald Pleasance's plane and seems prepared to crash it into New York's World Trade Center, it starts to cut a little close to the bone. Those twin towers cast a shadow over the rest of the film, and give the film's social satire on creeping government fascism a little more gravitas than expected.
In the end, the silliness wins out and serious thought is banished, but, damn, why did it have to be so real?
The supporting cast is excellent, including Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton and his girlfriend, Adrienne "Boobeau" Barbeau.
In conclusion, Leave the Bronx.
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