escape from new york be a solid action noir by john carpenter and although it lack the punch of carpenter other three previous feature ( the fog and halloween and assault on precinct 13 ) . kurt russell become famous for his snake plissken and and rightfully so and although the character seem to be only a more gritty version of napoeleon wilson in assault . what make this film the cult classic it be be carpenter very apocalyptic and brash story . this be a very dark film and and it hold up especially well today when show against the countless fluff film that hollywood seem to be churn out . carpenter make the most out of his meeger budget and create a very convincing new york city . not only be the set design fantastic and but so be the typically strong performance . russell and hayes and barbeau and pleasence and stanton and atkins and cypher and borgnine be all cult legend and and see them all work together make robert altman cast look feeble in comparison . what limit this film from greatness be surprisingly lax direction by carpenter . the film be not as tight a it should have be and and really fail to generate any sort of suspense during the action . death just happen out of nowhere and with little to no build up and which be a shame . this movie could have really be amaze . the end be perfect though and and easily make up for the film fault . see it for kurt russell and the great end and you will come away a happy viewer . watch escape from la though to see what this movie should have be .