Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Overall:

It's Ethan Bishop's (Austin Stoker) first night on the job. He's eager to get his feet wet, so it's not wonder that he's dismayed about being assigned to watch over Precinct 13 for the night, as they are in the process of moving to a new location and carries the promise of a boring night.

That promise is broken when an unknown man stumbles through the doors of lonely Precinct 13, claiming that he's being followed. In the ensuing investigation, Bishop finds out that the local gangs have declared war on the cops, just to get een with the unknown man for killing one of thier own.

To compound the problem, three inmates being transported to Death Row have been deposited at Precinct 13, due to the fact that one is seriously ill. When the guards and the ill inmate are killed in the ensuing fire-fight with the gangs, Bishop is saddled with two dangerous men, as well as an army of ruthless killers on the outside.

What evolves is a night of endless and pointless violence, with no hope of rescue until circumstances take an unexpected turn.

Likes:

While a little disjointed, and a little unclear as to what the gangs were up to in the set up of the ultimate seige, this movie was a good action film with good tension. The music was interestingly composed and added a sinister feel that only John Carpenter can create.

Dislikes:

It would have been nice to have a bit more clarity on the movements of the gang leaders in the first half of the movie. I know it was supposed to come off as senseless violence, which it did, but it seemed as if it was a bit much.

Then again, that's what happens when one takes the minimalist approach and doesn't write a lot of dialogue for the movie.

In Closing:

Not being up on John Carpenter's work, I had no idea what to expect. This is one of his  first movies and let me tell you that it was weird. It's definitely a change of pace from modern action films, and the low -budget quality of the project gives it a unique character that puts it into a realm of its own.

If you want a change from the same 'ole- same 'ole, pick up this original instead of it's remake.

..........On IMDB.com.........Discuss this Movie.........