Escape from L.A. is a post apocalyptic action film released in theaters on August 9, 1996. Directed by John Carpenter, co written and produced by Debra Hill and Kurt Russell, with Russell also starring as Snake Plissken. A sequel to Escape from New York (1981), Escape from L.A. co stars Steve Buscemi, Stacy Keach, Bruce Campbell, Peter Fonda, and Pam Grier.
Escape from L.A. failed to meet the studio’s expectations at the box office, and received polarized reactions from critics. The film later found a strong cult following. Carpenter has described Escape from L.A. as both “fun to make” and requiring “months of nights” of work. Carpenter would later recall that the theme park scene, shot at night on a Universal backlot, resulted in a noise complaint from Rick Dees which forced them to cease using live ammunition.
CG supervisor David Jones has expressed his distaste for the resulting effects used in the battle, which he described as “a little iffy”. Although uncredited, Tony Hawk has claimed that he and fellow professional skateboarder Chris Miller worked as stunt doubles for Peter Fonda and Kurt Russell during the surfing scene. Several scenes were shot in Carson, including the Sunset Boulevard and freeway sequences. The Sunset Boulevard scene was filmed in a landfill, where production staff constructed over 120 structures to create a shanty town. To create the impression of a crowded post apocalyptic freeway, 250 broken cars were sourced from a junkyard in Ventura.
Escape from L.A. Soundtrack album by Various was released on July 16, 1996 by Lava and Atlantic Records. The film’s score has been released twice, the first on both CD and cassette by Milan Records in 1996 and again as an expanded CD release by specialty label La-La Land Records in 2014 that featured pieces of music that were recorded for but ultimately cut from the film.
Tracklist:
- Dawn: Stabbing Westward
- Sweat: Tool
- The One: White Zombie
- Cut Me Out: Toadies
- Pottery: Butthole Surfers
- 10 Seconds Down: Sugar Ray
- Blame (L.A. Remix): Gravity Kills
- Professional Widow: Tori Amos
- Paisley: Ministry
- Fire in the Hole: Orange 9mm
- Escape from the Prison Planet: Clutch
- Et Tu Brute?: CIV
- Foot on the Gas: Sexpod
- Can’t Even Breathe: Deftones
