The movie chronicles the story of a nearly abandoned police station that is held under siege by a heavily-armed street gang. The station is being relocated to another part of town, and there are a few individuals that remain there while it is in transition.
The focal arc of the story presents a situation where police must team up with convicts headed for death row or die. The story is not complex, but the result is impressive.
This 1976 film from horror/suspense auteur John Carpenter features several trademark elements such as prodding electronic musical score and simple no-frills camera shots. Everyone knows the theme from Carpenter's later film "Halloween." If you compare the score for this film, and "Halloween," can hear how his electronic score complexities evolved and improved since this film.
Carpenter has a talent for using simple and realistic imagery to convey feelings of despair and tension. Never one to use gimmicky gotchas, we can see how he uses sound and stark visuals to achieve the tone he seeks for the film. The film succeeds in building suspense and tension. There are no fancy special effects or extreme shocking moments. Instead, Carpenter uses silence to ratchet up the intensity.
Is it a good film, yes. A great film, no. The dialog is very simplistic and unnatural sounding. However, the imagery and sound make up for the lack of great dialog.
If you are a fan of classis crime thrillers, give this movie a watch. "Assault On Precinct 13" is also a must for any John Carpenter fan.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Have you seen "Assault On Precinct 13?" What about the 2005 remake starring Laurence Fishburne and Ethan Hawke? Please share your thoughts and opinions in a comment.
