Escape from New York | Limited Edition Steelbook | 4K UHD+Blu-ray

When I think of the movies that define John Carpenter's style as a director Escape from New York always comes in at the very top of the list. An iconic Kurt Russel performance, a driving synth heavy score, a horror-tinged action narrative. This is Carpenter in his most elemental state.

All around, the casting in this movie is excellent. Not just Russel in the lead, but the iconic Lee Van Cleef, Donald Pleasance, and Isaac Hayes in the role of principal villain. That's not to mention supporting performances from Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrien Barbeau. At every turn, Escape from New York offers up perfectly staged scenes and excellently delivered dialogue.

I won't say this is Carpenter's best film, that honor goes to The Thing, but this is easily the film I've watched most often over the course of my life. A movie that offers a still compelling view of America as a police state, especially relevant in an era where major cities have become a larger and larger source of political division.

Special Features (via Shout! partner gruv.com)

• 4K Restoration
  
• Dolby Atmos 7.1 Mix
  
• Inside LAIKA: Discovering the Characters of The Boxtrolls Featuring Rare Test Footage
  
• Inside LAIKA: Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA's Animation Team Feature-Length Storyboards
  
• Character Art and Concept Art Photo Gallery
  
• Foreword by Ramin Zahed, the Editor-in-Chief of Animation Magazine
  
• Audio Commentary with Directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi
  
• Dare to Be Square: The Making of The Boxtrolls
  
• Original Featurettes