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Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 2/14

Ass13
2/14: I'm a big fan of John Carpenter, and the alpha and omega of his prime is from 1976 to 1988 when he churned out four unforgettable classic pictures.

There's something about each: a deliberate buildup of tension, the slow movement of players as they get to their places, and the subsequent roller coaster ride. In short, Assault on Precinct 13 is the textbook of John Carpenter's formula.

Interestingly, there's a great deal of similarities between this and Night of the Living Dead. If that's the case, then John Carpenter was paying homage to George Romero by using nihilists in the place of zombies.

Three stars steal the show: Austin Stoker in a Duane Jones way, Darwin Joston, and Laurie Zimmer. They work together well, and there's a certain pronounced, but not acted on, sexual tension between Joston and Zimmer. The plot feels realistic, and it's what makes John Carpenter films exciting. One trade-off is the slow pace, but it only occurs during the first half.

All in all, Assault on Precinct 13 is the beginning of John Carpenter's greatness.