Ever since the dawn of history, there have been numerous historic and mythical tales of a small group of people holding fort against an overwhelming army. Such stories are ubiquitous all over the world. We have seen this enacted on screen in movies like “300,” “The Alamo,” and more. In this post, we will examine ‘Assault on Precinct 13’, an action thriller masterpiece written and directed by John Carpenter, who also composed the movie’s score.

Made on a shoestring budget of less than $100,000, the movie was inspired by John Wayne’s film ‘Rio Bravo’ and the movie ‘Night of the Living Dead’. While the movie was remade in 2005, this version will forever remain the more critically acclaimed. The genius of Carpenter is that he manages to keep the movie enthralling from start to finish. The movie is set in Los Angeles of the 70s.

The plot begins with an announcement on the radio that a cache of weapons has fallen into dangerous hands. It is soon revealed that a violent gang in Los Angeles, ‘Street Thunder,’ has stolen the said stash.

At 3:00 AM in the morning, a police force traps the gang in a narrow alleyway in Anderson, a suburb of LA, killing six of its members. The remaining members of the gang take a blood oath, swearing vengeance on the police force and the residents of Alamo.

Elsewhere in Anderson, the city’s police station is being shut down and is staffed with only three personnel: Sergeant Chaney (Henry Brandon) and two secretaries, Leigh (Laurie Zimmer) and Julie (Nancy Loomis).

A young African American officer, Lieutenant Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker), who is on his first day on the job, is tasked to assist in managing the station, which is to be closed down permanently within a few hours.

A prison bus with Officer Starker (Charles Cyphers) and three convicts is passing through Anderson. One of the convicts, Caudell (Peter Frankland), seems ill with a heavy cough. Fearing the spread of the disease, Starker decides to make a stop at the station and move the prisoners to their ultimate destination at a later time. Caudell and the two other prisoners, Wells (Tony Burton) and Napoleon Wilson (Darwin Joston), who is a convicted murderer set to receive a death penalty, are each held in a cell at the small station.

Some bloodthirsty members of the gang are patrolling the city, seeking their next victims. A small girl and an ice cream truck driver are their first casualties, as the gang ruthlessly guns them down. The father, who sees his little daughter die, follows the gang and kills one of them. With the rest of the gang giving chase, he manages to run to the police station. He is in a catatonic state as a result of fear and unable to speak and tell the staff at the station about the impending danger.

Moments later, the gang next guns down the driver of the bus, Straker, and Chaney, who is just leaving the station for the night. Now the police station becomes their next target. Ethan, now realizing his predicament, takes charge of the situation. He decides to free the three prisoners at the station when a bullet fired by the gang claims Caudell’s life.

Ethan realizes that he and the remaining two women are vastly outnumbered and will not get any help from the father of the dead girl, who is in shock and incapacitated. He makes the decision to make an alliance with the two remaining prisoners.

As he desperately attempts to find firearms at the station, Julie becomes the next casualty. Ethan, hopeful that help will arrive soon, arms Julie and the two convicts with firearms. How long can these four individuals hold off a heavily armed gang of bloodthirsty thugs? Will help arrive on time? How many of them will survive to see another day?

‘Assault on Precinct 13’ is a thrill ride from start to finish with skillful camera work by Douglas Knapp. Carpenter’s background score accentuates the intensity of the film. Interestingly, the gang bears a strong resemblance to the zombies seen in ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ with unearthly frightening-looking individuals who seem to speak no words and who are only after vengeance.

The characters of Ethan, Julie, Wells, and Napoleon are well-defined, and the interactions among them are another aspect of the film that works in its favor.

The dynamics between Ethan and Napoleon are also noteworthy. The uneasy alliance made between them soon becomes one of friendship and mutual respect. Similarly, the interactions between Leigh and Napoleon start off uneasily, but Leigh seems to be fascinated by him when she sees his dedication to their cause.

Carpenter manages to put together an intense film despite a modest budget, with few special effects or stunts, just by creating an ominous environment and powerful performances.

‘Assault on Precinct 13’ is one of the best action movies to come out of the ’70s and has since acquired praise from contemporary critics and a cult following.