ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)

John Carpenter wrote, directed and edited this entertaining low-budget cult film, his second after the equally entertaining low-budget cult film, 'Dark Star'.   

It has a pretty simple plot, owing a lot to 'Rio Bravo' and 'Night of the Living Dead': hordes of nameless gang members are intent on overwhelming a LA police station that is in the process of being decommissioned, and killing the skeleton staff inside.

The three main characters within the police station are barely given enough characterisation to make them interesting, and the action sequences are likewise just about good enough.

So why the cult status?

I guess it comes down to those intangible qualities of attitude and atmosphere, for which the electronic score (written by Carpenter) is an important element.  Plus the fact that two of the three main characters, the secretary Leigh and the convicted prisoner, Napoleon Wilson, are undeniably cool.

There is also a shocking moment early on when a young girl is shot dead in cold blood.  This suggests that the film is going to be quite transgressive, but in fact nothing that follows matches that moment.  

So not a great film, but it’s entertaining enough and doesn’t outstay its welcome.

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do