Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - Carpenter's legendary, rock-solid action guerilla filmmaking

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Über-cool poster for John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, which erroneously makes it seem like the film focuses on the police-hating gang instead of the police

One newly promoted officer in the California Highway Patrol during a period of riotous gang violence is to spend one night guarding a police station, which is shutting down. But outside of the plan for a quiet night, a prison transport makes a stop there, and a mad youth gang attacks!

 
Master New-Yorker filmmaker John Carpenter (Dark Star (1974)) shows his undeniable flair for putting together a simple yet exciting story with Assault on Precinct 13, which was especially inspired by Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo (1959) and George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968), (although Assault is not a western or a zombie film.) Carpenter wrote, directed, scored and edited the film, which was his 2nd feature.
The assault of the violent youths on unlucky citizens and the station is never explained, and, strangely enough, it still works, because Assault is so solid as a suspenseful action ride. It features a cool black hero played by Austin Stoker (Sheba, Baby (1975)), - although the more prominent hero is arguably death row inmate Napoleon Wilson, who is played with deadpan panache by Darwin Joston (Time Walker (1982)). The dry humor and corny quality of parts of the film, - parts of it have a look and tone that make them feel like they were cut out of a 1970s porno, - is also part of its rugged attraction. Carpenter's cool synth-heavy score is equally integral to its lasting attraction.
Assault on Precinct 13 has a few effects and sound duds, but in light of its small budget, largely amateur cast and crew and hurried production, it is an impressive outcome and a greatly memorable film in Carpenter's body of work. It has dated some, and portions of it do feel a bit talky and slow today.

 

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Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - Solid action guerilla film-making 

  

Hear 5 minutes of Carpenter's theme from the film here

Cost: Estimated 100 - 150k $
Box office: Unknown
= Uncertain

[Assault on Precinct 13 premiered 8 October (Tallahassee, Florida) and runs 91 minutes. Carpenter wrote the film in 8 days. Shooting lasted 20 days in November 1975 in California, including Los Angeles. Carpenter has referred to it as the most fun he has ever had directing. SPOILER The MPAA objected to the ice truck scene, in which a little girl is shot and killed by the gang. Carpenter cut the scene out to receive an R rating for the film but then released it intact with the scene in anyway. The film was first received without much attention or praise in North America, but was reappraised following rave reception in London and then throughout Europe. Regrettably its gross numbers are not reported online. A same-titled remake of inferior quality was released in 2005. Carpenter returned with Halloween (1978). Stoker returned in 8 TV credits prior to his theatrical return in Time Walker (1982). Assault on Precinct 13 is certified fresh at 98 % with a 7.77/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Assault on Precinct 13?