Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

A Masterpiece!

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

In Los Angeles, police have raided and killed some deadly gang members. The gang called Street Thunder have taken a blood oath as they have sworn to avenge the death of some of their members who were killed and are loaded with silencers. While Lieutenant Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker) who is leading a prison bus has 3 prisoners named Napoleon Wilson (Darwin Jotson), Caudelle (Peter Frankland) and Wells (Tony Burton) on their way to a new prison driven by bus- driver Starker (Charles Cypher) as one of the prisoners is sick and needs a place to stay for the night at the nearly closing down police station known as Precinct 13 for medical help. However, the gang is surrounding the area and now everyone inside the building might survive the night to fight for their lives and go get help from other officers.One of the greatest and most influential action movies of all time! writer-director John Carpenter has crafted one of the most thrilling and action packed thrillers ever and one of his most underrated films. Following the release of Dark Star, Assault and a second script entitled Eyes were supposed to be two ultra-low-budget films written and directed by John Carpenter, with financing by J. Stein Kaplan and Joseph Kaufman. After reviewing the first draft of Assault and following the sale of the script Eyes to Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters, later renamed Eyes of Laura Mars, Kaplan and Kaufman concentrated on just Assault. "J. Stein Kaplan was a friend of mine from USC," said Carpenter. "He knew Joseph Kaufman from his days in Philadelphia … Basically their fathers were funding Assault on Precinct 13". The two families of the producers formed The CKK Corporation to finance the film. He wanted to make a movie that was a modern version of Rio Bravo in aspects combined with Night of the Living Dead with humans rather than zombies and was shot on production started in November 1975 and was shot in only 20 days.Writer/director Carpenter was approached by J. Stein Kaplan to make a low-budget exploitation film for under $100,000 but with total creative control. Carpenter wrote The Anderson Alamo, inspired by the Howard Hawks Western film Rio Bravo and the George A. Romero horror film Night of the Living Dead. Despite controversy with the MPAA over the explicitly violent and infamous "ice cream" gunshot scene murder of a child named Julie who was played by Nancy Loomis would later be in Halloween as the scene was harsh as it gave the film nearly an X rating. the film received an R rating and opened in the United States on November 3, 1976.It didn't do well at the box-office but overseas it did good and later became a cult favorite and influenced many actions especially Die Hard and more. It got mixed reviews then later critical re- appraisal and is now one of the greatest action films of all time and even got a remake in 2005.The performances by Austin Stoker and Charles Cypher and there is lots of action galore. That ice cream child murder scene is quite horrifying no doubt and Carpenter stated he should had never wrote that scene or shot it as he was horrified by it. The score by Carpenter is fantastic and quite influential to many albums and some video games, it also draws on emotions with some humor and thrills.Not to be missed.

The light of the police siren shines upon the infested streets of a metropolis. As it searches for potential trouble, darkness hides beyond the reach of the men in uniform. One threat could be the Crips, another could be the Gambino crime family, and yet another could be the Japanese mafia. The search to find a way to take down these gangs can be a frustrating issue, given how not only large they are, but of how connected they could be to the neighborhood. Just getting rid of the troublemakers could spell the end of street that had been operating in that manner for years. So how do we take them down?The problem in a lot of major cities is that these groups aren't just big, but can often have hundreds of members that are trained to blend in with society. The man selling hot dogs and even fellow police could be a possible member. This is certainly not a new thing as federal forces have had to deal with this for years. Today's movie takes us back to the 1970's in a crowded, yet secluded area of Los Angeles that involves few fighting many in Assault on Precinct 13. Within the Anderson ghetto of South Central, a local gang called Street Thunder has just stolen a large amount of ammunition. The LAPD manages to kill a bunch during an ambush, but that was just opening the floodgates. Recently appointed CHP officer Ethan Bishop (played by Austin Stoker) is assigned to supervise the last day of the thirteenth precinct before it moves. In there are Sergeant Chaney and two secretaries, Leigh and Julie. At the same time, a bus with three prisoners is forced to stop at the precinct as one of them is sick. While their waiting for medical attention, a shell-shocked man bursts in.It turned out that his daughter was gunned down by Street Thunder gang members and he retaliated by shooting a warlord. They in turn chased him and saw that he ran inside the precinct. Just before help can be called, the phone and power is cut as possibly a hundred more members reign a hail of gunfire. Several people are hit, with Bishop, Leigh, and two of the prisoners, Wilson (Played by Darwin Joston) and Wells surviving. With much of the bodies and blood mysteriously cleaned up by Street Thunder, those in the thirteenth precinct have to try to survive before they get in.For his first movie, John Carpenter hit a home run with Assault on Precinct 13. While not having any big stars and mostly confined to this one location, the movie makes up by having a tense tone throughout. And this is even before everyone is trapped. The sequence involving Street Thunder just looking through a gun scope to find people to kill gives you that sense that there is nothing redeemable about these people. That's probably why when they descend onto the police precinct, they seems like living zombies from Night of the Living Dead. As he probably couldn't afford anyone major, this forces all the main characters to have some well- defined personalities that made you root for them. I really got into Austin Stoker as the new guy on the block, trying to figure out the best way to make do with the few weapons they have. He's an example of how a leader is done right in this situation. This balances out well with Darwin Ioston, who seems relaxed about the situation, as if he's seen far worse, and is a likely, though unsure ally. This makes for some interesting banter.Along with the good script is some great, even frightening action. The film is smart to never have a leader of Street Thunder, causing us to view the villains more as a force rather then as a character. All they do is create a marker on the precinct and that's all you need to know that they have nothing to lose. I won't spoil what makes them a challenge (believe me, it's more then the gunfire), but when it happens, you know that our heroes are in a tight spot. This creates a constantly moving plot that seems to act like a time bomb; you never know what's going to strike.I'll give this nine Ice Cream trucks out of ten. Those that want to understand how a tense tone should work needs to view Assault on Precinct 13. The best way to describe why I enjoy this is that it's a thriller that's made like a horror; unpredictable, but fast paced. This is one dangerous neighborhood that's worth going through.

The picture quality was variable with the darker scenes looking especially bad. The music was occasionally annoying and the sound effects felt a little empty but that kinda worked in its favour to some extent. The pace of the film was very good. It kept moving and I was never bored. The action was entertaining and it was a bit different to watch. I liked the fast ending. Scary because of the feeling of gritty helplessness.

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) is a classic John Carpenter's action horror movie that still scares me today. The Action Is so raw it doesn't seem choreographed. So fast, It doesn't seem impossible and so intense you never ask what it's all about-you just hang on. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) combines elements of the classic western and modern thriller to create a cult favorite-one John Carpenter's best films.What stands out is the dialogue and subtleties. the violence is kind of realistic in some ways and no one in show is like a superhero. In other wards, no one is really making some unreal shot with a firearm. Napolean Wilson (Darwin Joston) character is outstanding. I agree about outstanding character development in film. I recommend everyone watch this film in the dark. you almost feel like your caught up in the siege with cops and prisoners.A White - Hot Night of Hate! Assault on Precinct 13 is still one of my all time favorite classic action films that is very realistic and very, very scary today. I still enjoy this classic masterpiece from the Brilliant Director John Carpenter! Darwin Joston as Napoleon Wilson kick's ass! He kicks ass all the gang members to dust, he is most beloved heroes today!!! Austin Stoker as Ethan Bishop a modern cop who people does not respect, he is outstanding character of the police force I ever saw. Even the character and the plot of the movie is not realistic It still an action peace of the 70's. During the siege when cops were fighting and police station it always get me scared. I Love the performance and I love the character Napoleon Wilson also I love Leigh and Ethan Bishop. Classic 70's low budget flick from John Carpenter with plenty of shootouts and good action. Most of the film takes place in a single location at the police station but the standoff is very suspenseful and entertaining. It's sort of a modern day western set in the 70's California suburbs. The relatively unknown cast and music work very well.Before he hit the big time with the classic Halloween, writer/director John Carpenter gave us Assault on Precinct 13 a story about a cop with a war on his hands with an army of street killers and his only ally is a convicted murderer. A Siege happens and all hell breaks loose. A great B-movie classic from the late 70's that still stands up today and even the 2005 remake was done in good taste with a different twist then the original. I am really wondering if Napoleon did got the parole for saving Leigh, Ethan and that poor old man's life. I seriously I love this movie to death. There was even a remake about this movie Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) and it was good but comparing to this. The Original Is so much better.Police ambush and kill several gang members in Los Angeles. Gang members make a pact of blood to strike back at police, and conduct a siege on the police station which is almost abandoned and due to be closed. Staff of the closing precinct and the criminals being held there while in transit must work together to fight off the attacking gang members. That is the main plot about this action horror flick.The most scary vision is the main theme that John Carpenter performed for the film. The thing that's scared me here is the gang Street Thunder, when one of the gang members kills little girl by the ice-cream truck and the father Lawson (Martin West), pursues and kills with a handgun a gang member who cold bloody murdered his daughter and goes to the payphone to call the police a group of gang members are coming out of dark and he starts running in the station scares me so much.In shock, he is unable to communicate to the officers what has happened to him. That scene with gangs sieging the station scares me to death!!!! When the gangs are shooting on the police station with silencers scares me to death. John Carpenter put a lot of horror in the movie, more than he put action in it. I am giving this movie a 10/10 for realistic outstanding performance I ever saw and it deserve it! Assault on Precinct 13 is a 1976 American action thriller film written, directed, scored and edited by John Carpenter. It stars Austin Stoker as a police officer who defends a defunct precinct against an attack by a relentless criminal gang, along with Darwin Joston as a convicted murderer who helps him. Laurie Zimmer and Tony Burton co-star as other defenders of the precinct.10/10 Grade: A+ Studio: CKK Corporation, The, Overseas FilmGroup Starring: Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Nancy Kyes, Tony Burton , Charles Cyphers Director: John Carpenter Producer: J. S. Kaplan Writer: John Carpenter, Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 31 Mins. Budget: $150.000