The Watchcast is back for its final slate of movies in 2025, and this month we're picking whatever strikes our fancy. First up is Alex's pick, a palate cleanser for all the Escape from New York also-rans we've seen this year in the form of actual, honest-to-Snake Escape from New York! Join us as we dive deep into the movie that spawned an iconic character, dozens of rip-offs, and pretty much Hideo Kojima's whole deal.



CHAPTERS:



(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 161: Escape from New York (1981)

(00:00:15) - Intro.

(00:08:18) - How did John Carpenter realize his vision of crime-scorched hellscape New York

(00:26:23) - The insane cultural shadow that this movie cast.

(00:33:51) - Crime has risen 400%, so New York is a prison now. You don't need to know anything else.

(00:41:55) - The President is crashing out.

(00:46:40) - Break!

(00:47:00) - We're back, and it's time for a quick failed rescue.

(00:49:44) - Our first introduction to Snake Plissken.

(00:59:55) - Gliding into the Big Apple.

(01:03:28) - No matter how bad things get in New York, people will still make time for the theater.

(01:07:47) - We've got C.H.U.D.S, and also Kurt Russell's (then) wife.

(01:15:36) - Maggie and the Brain.

(01:19:09) - Here comes The Duke of New York.

(01:23:34) - This is a sneaking mission.

(01:27:35) - The Duke wants his damn map, and Brain figures out where the glider is.

(01:32:04) - That's Ox Baker's music!

(01:39:37) - The mad dash to the World Trade Center, then to the bridge.

(01:46:20) - An even madder dash over the wall.

(01:48:25) - Snake ain't letting this slide.

(01:54:28) - Final thoughts.

(01:59:44) - Our remaining films for the month.

(02:04:19) - Outro.