Who is the king of pulpy, genre cinema? This type of film has become increasingly popular over the last few years with studios like Blumhouse who have been releasing a steady supply of horror, action, and sci-fi flicks with that 70’s and 80’s flare. These filmmakers have been strongly influenced by Paul Verhoeven, David Cronenberg, and of course…John Carpenter. Carpenter made a career of leaning heavily into genre cinema and bringing to life creative and inspiring stories. He has laid the groundwork for filmmakers like S. Craig Zahler, Adam Wingard, David Robert Mitchell, James DeMonaco, and the Duffer Brothers to flex their creative juice into the cinema and on streaming. There would be no The Purge, The Guest, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and The Hateful Eight without the influence of the genre master.
But what is so influential about the work of Carpenter?
The unabashed love for genre cinema must be one of the biggest inspirations for others. Even if they do not outwardly mention the influence, any director who inhabits the world of genre cinema channels that Carpenter energy. You never say Carpenter goes out and creates standard and straightforward dramas. That is not his style.
Carpenter might be the master of the genre, but he is also the master of taking shoestring budgets and creating immersive worlds with them.
Slasher flicks, ghost stories, alien invasions, raw and violent action flicks, and kung fu films make up his filmography.
Would other directors bring such personalities if they made films like They Live, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China with bigger budgets? It would be hard to imagine! Then you have the scores…those beautiful and impactful scores full of tones. When you hear those minimal notes and synthesizers…you know it is a Carpenter score. Even if they are not influenced by the films, it is hard not to hear those connections when a horror, action, or sci-fi director incorporates synthesizers in their score.
But 40 years later, why is Carpenter’s Escape from New York still beloved by genre fans around?
This film really encompasses all the hallmarks of Carpenter’s work. Let us start with the budget. The concept for Escape from New York is huge! What if America has fallen so hard that crime is rampant and the whole of New York City is turned into a penal colony? That is the scale for a sci-fi action flick. But this is no blockbuster when it comes to funds. How does Carpenter make that work then? Not going to lie…that is one of the drawbacks of the film. Like The Road Warrior, the concept is incredible, but the story is restricted by the scale of the actual production.
There are aspects of this film that feel rushed because of budget constraints but the pulpy feel that Carpenter channels in the film certainly makes up for it.
If someone out there tries to remake this…I really hope they realize what makes this one so special.
That is why I love Mad Max: Fury Road so much. It felt like George Miller finally got a chance to realize his vision. Can you imagine if Carpenter could do the same? I do not know if Carpenter is in that creative place anymore (he has only released two films since 2000 and the last was in 2010).
What about this “pulpy” tone makes Escape from New York so memorable?
Yeah, the film is supposed to be in 1997 (just imagine if that became a real thing…life would be so different!) but this film feels SO 80’s.
The synth music and technology screens from the early 80’s really captured the time.
Do you know what I mean? That 80’s nostalgia is so poignant today that it has become a serious movement in entertainment (looking at you Stranger Things). How about that CGI? Yeah…not great. The glider in the sky looks like it was from an original Macintosh (it could have been). The set designs do look like sets (which generally is not a great thing) but there is a nostalgia and tangible nature about it. The flipped cars, the random flames, the endless trash…it all works out perfectly. Then you have the film filled with random 80’s character actors in small roles too! Tom Atkins of Lethal Weapon and Charles Cyphers of Major League is a couple of examples.
But this film’s legacy cannot stand solely on 80’s nostalgia, right?
Carpenter is not a legendary director for nothing. There is a certain layer of camp and personality that permeates this entire film. One of the biggest contributors to this is…of course the score composed by Carpenter. Where most action directors would go for big and bombastic scores, Carpenter stays true to his tones and synthesizers to make this film his own. The direction is smooth and methodical. Carpenter takes his time with the film as we are engrossed in this fully realized world. We can feel the debris, the stench, and the danger around every corner. Carpenter knows the atmosphere better than most directors and he proves it with Escape. There are some…interesting decisions with some of the designs. Would most directors have the villain of their film drive around in a Cadillac furnished with chandeliers for lights? Carpenter did.
But you need actors and memorable characters to fill out this world too so does Escape deliver?
I would not be writing this article right now if it did not. Of course, we must discuss the man, the myth, the legend…Snake Plissken. Snake is one of the most iconic anti-heroes ever put to screen. The eyepatch…that mane of hair…the leather jacket…they all come together to create a true movie badass. But you need the right actor to bring this kind of character to life as well. Queue…Kurt Russell. Some of Russell’s most iconic work has been in Carpenter films and he kills as the scowling and charismatic soldier turned crook. The rest of the cast is filled out with some fun and unique additions. What if you need a Clint Eastwood type to play a rugged military man? Just get his Leone western co-star Lee Van Cleef. Famous character actors Ernest Borgnine and Harry Dean Stanton join the fun as a kindly yet tough cab driver and conniving and manipulative brainiac, respectively. Carpenter brings back Dr. Loomis himself, Donald Pleasence as the President of the United States. Finally, there is Isaac Hayes who is the most unique and cool addition to the cast as The Duke of New York.
Do you see why this pulpy action flick still stands the test of time 40 years later?
Does the budget limit this classic flick a bit? Yeah…but it still packs in plenty of reasons to love this film.
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Sometimes you need a pulpy fun time full of crazy characters and atmosphere. Carpenter is even able to pack in some political commentary that felt relevant back in the ’80s…and still today. Do yourself a favor and check out Escape from New York.
