Escape from New York is something of an oddity. It appears, from its title and poster, as if it's a blockbuster action movie. In actuality, it's a relatively low-budget ion project and it's about as "auteur" as it gets. It's John Carpenter doing his thing in a DIY, "indie" style, and it has his stamp all over it. This is immediately noticeable as the film opens with a minimalistic and moody synthesised soundtrack, by Carpenter himself, over a lengthly credit…

Malcolm McDowell offers a manic and bold performance in this otherwise messy and bloated historical drama-porno blend. Caligula follows the titular young emperor of Rome as he ascends the throne of the Republic. His Rome is one bathed in hedonism and wealth, and under his unfettered power he further degenerates it into one of debauchery.

The backdrop to the film is probably more interesting than the viewing experience. It’s a complicated melting pot of creative direction, including that of 70s…