11 October 2024
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
90 min.
Directed by John Carpenter.
With Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Martin West, Tony Burton, Charles Cyphers, Nancy Kyes, Peter Bruni, Alan Koss.
Lean, mean early Carpenter.

A small group of police and civilians are trapped inside an abandoned police station...they're surrounded outside by an angry, merciless street gang out for blood.

Good suspense litmus test for Carpenter's later work, but most importantly a standout on its own: taut, well-performed and hauntingly directed. Western-themed 'fight or die' makes for a magnificent little horror film in the hands of the Halloween director. Great little score.

Interesting, the working title was The Anderson Alamo.

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