it would have be easy for john carpenter to stay in george romero shadow or remain a cult figure with more dark star type entertainment . instead and jc catapult his name and franchise into history with the release of efny . it contain all the classic element represent a no compromise anti hero ( russell ) and a cast of misfit cohort who work both for and against his goal ( borgnine and barbeau and stanton ) and an enemy with real dimension ( hayes ) and a fantastic and depressingly realistic setting ( manhattan turn into a prison ) and and an authority we can both respect ( van cleef ) and despise ( pleasance ) . and all of it work extremely well with a no nonsense plot and storyline . no part of this be so far fetched that we can not relate to the situation ( and who hasn not picture nyc in this condition one day . ) or sympathize with russell character snake plissken . the bad thing you could say about this cult favorite be the low key climax . no and you do not get a major battle or explosion a the finale . what you do get be absolutely true to form with the rest of the film represent snake walk away after successfully complete his mission ( and save his own skin ) and yet can still screw the authority and the society that put him in the situation to begin with . and you find yourself grin in approval .