While NYC certainly had a street crime problem then, video from a fictional sci-fi movie where New York is converted to a lawless prison island for criminals is a remarkably poor way to support your argument.

My point is that in 1981 you could make a movie on the premise that NYC would be like this in 16 years.

That tells you something about NYC in 1981!!

Or so I imagine(d). You're probably right that my intended message doesn't exactly reach everyone...

Indeed. Using similar logic one could have correctly predicted the 1949 attack on the Empire State Building by a giant ape.