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Assault on Precinct 13

Play trailer Poster for Assault on Precinct 13 R Released Nov 5, 1976 1h 31m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When the LAPD kills several members of the South Central gang Street Thunder, the remaining members avenge themselves by way of a bloody war waged against cops and citizens alike. Caught in the crossfire is Lt. Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker), who's managing a skeleton crew at the local and soon-to-be-closed police precinct. As the gang members close in, Bishop forms an unlikely alliance with a group of prisoners in order to defend the station and the lives of everyone in it.
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Assault on Precinct 13

Assault on Precinct 13

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Critics Consensus

Lean, taut and compellingly gritty, John Carpenter's loose update of Rio Bravo ranks as a cult action classic and one of the filmmaker's best.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Hopelessly violent but exceedingly well made. May 25, 2011 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Novelty of a gang swearing a blood oath to destroy a precinct station and all inside is sufficiently compelling for the gory-minded to assure acceptance. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Time Out One of the most effective exploitation movies of the decade. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media This 1976 cult favorite has endured long to spawn a 2005 remake and still be regarded as one of writer-director John Carpenter's finest works. May 1, 2024 Full Review Arthur Steele Birmingham Mail Much of this film can be taken as intentional satire as well as the way most audiences will see it -- as a small budget, but often nail-bitingly effective spine-chiller. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Eve Tushnet Patheos The action is fine–Carpenter’s good at this, it’s all brisk, just enough characterization to make these feel like people who cast real shadows but no more than that. Carpenter did the music as well, and it’s fantastic. Aug 16, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Darren D John Carpenter's gangland version of "Night of the Living Dead" an onslaught from the darkness of unnamed enemies, attacking the replacement of "Night of the Living Dead" isolated farm house, the now half abandoned police station closing it's doors. Technical the gang isn't this nameless entity, but they just might well be & that's the horror Carpenter brings. They're almost faceless & they don't have this big personality of a leader like a Cyrus from "The Warriors" giving grand speeches & barking orders, the gang attack like a pack of Hyenas, taking turns to finish off their weaken pray. Then within the boundaries of the station, you have civilians, police & criminals, having this battle of trust to survive the assault, but there's a sense of hopelessness of not knowing when the violence will begin or end. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/18/24 Full Review Steve R Laurie Zimmer, damn. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review Matthew G Enjoyed the slow build of the first half as you wait to see how everything will be connected. Second half felt like a bit of a let down. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/28/24 Full Review acsdoug D yeah, it's pretty ;ow budget, but you'll recognize the unmistakable Carpenter style. Not to mention the unmistakable Carpenter soundtrack. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/26/24 Full Review Richard L Carpenter made a couple of amazing movies, but the rest of them are like chicken night in Turkey. Cheesy in every single way, from dialogues and acting to timing and editing. Both the plot and the action make no sense, as scores of apparently braindead gang members alternate between throwing themselves towards their death like lemmings and running around the street crouched for hours. Banger of a soundtrack though. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/23/24 Full Review ben j One of Carpenter's best, this is a classic of "group of ragtag characters thrust into a specific location for the duration of the film with danger all around, and how that causes the different personalities to clash and work together" (think "The Thing," "Dawn of the Dead," "The Mist," etc). I have a deep love for 70s and 80s sci-fi, horror, and action, and this is at the top of the list—it's got a bit of everything; suspense, comedy, characterization, action, romance, all balled up into a transgressive, subversive adventure. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Assault on Precinct 13

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Movie Info

Synopsis When the LAPD kills several members of the South Central gang Street Thunder, the remaining members avenge themselves by way of a bloody war waged against cops and citizens alike. Caught in the crossfire is Lt. Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker), who's managing a skeleton crew at the local and soon-to-be-closed police precinct. As the gang members close in, Bishop forms an unlikely alliance with a group of prisoners in order to defend the station and the lives of everyone in it.
Director
John Carpenter
Producer
J. Stein Kaplan
Screenwriter
John Carpenter
Production Co
Overseas Film Group
Rating
R
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 19, 2013
Runtime
1h 31m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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