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Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) Reviews

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
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Cops, secretaries, and prisoners stuck in a soon-to-be-shuttered L.A. police station fight off a horde of murderous gang members in director John Carpenter's homage to Howard Hawks. When police officer Bishop (Austin Stoker) is left in charge of Precinct 13 on the last day it's open, he isn't prepared for the onslaught of a murderous street gang who have come into the possession of an enormous arsenal of guns. Finding himself trapped in the precinct with a pair of secretaries (Laurie Zimmer and Nancy Loomis), a few civilians and a handful of prisoners, Bishop is unable to call for help because the phones have already been disconnected and the precinct is in a run-down, out-of-the-way neighborhood. Holding out for a rescue, he and his fellow prisoners band together to barricade themselves in and hold the bandits at bay. But as the casualties mount and the supplies run low, they must choose between a daring escape attempt, a fiery offensive, or certain death. The sophomore feature from auteur-in-the-making John Carpenter, Assault on Precinct 13 reunited the director with Douglas H. Knapp, his cinematographer on 1974's Dark Star. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Starring:
Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, (more)
Director(s):
John Carpenter
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray
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Average Ratings

(15 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Tom R.

This is a great early gang-violence film revolving around a siege against a defunct police station. Austin Stoker is terrific as the noble, sensible officer Bishop. Laurie Zimmer is strong and very sexy as Leigh, and both of them serve to upend the stereotypes that the real hero in an action film has to be a white male. The only white male hero in this picture is a murderer headed for death row (Darwin Joston). At this time in film, most of the high profile black film protoagonists were anti-heroes (Shaft, Superfly) and women were rarely strong and confident. And it would be nice to find more films with Laurie Zimmer in them.

Yes   |   No


Arthur L.

There are not enough stars in the solar system to fairly rate how wonderful this flim is. There are only a handful of films that can be considered great...........Witness For The Prosecution, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Cassablanca. Assault On Precinct 13 not only is a great movie, but is at head of the class.

Yes   |   No


Mark L.

This is a classic from the 70s. Classic Carpenter at his best, easy plot that doesn't need much explanation. John Carpenter defies the mainstream in casting Austin Stoker as the lead hero who is African American. We have a hardcore strong woman in Laurie Zimmer and a badass ex con that we want to root for despite knowing that he is a convict. Carpenter is genius!

Yes   |   No


Donna W.

I thought this was okay. I don't feel it was a waste of my money.

Yes   |   No


PAUL A.

Improbable, nonsensical plot, lousy acting. Since when do they give a prisoner in chains an extra 30 feet of loose chains to throw out and trip up the antagonistic Warden? Why do the criminals all have silencers? So they won't wake up the neighbors! Trust me, the neighbors are all sound asleep after seeing the first 30 minutes of this movie. I just can't join the John Carpenter cult on this one.

Yes   |   No


Christopher T.

I like John Carpenter's work in general, but this one stinks. I suppose for its time it might have been reasonably entertaining (I'm trying to be generous), but it's slow moving and improbably idiotic. I kept watching expecting it to get better, but it didn't happen. See the Jean-François Richet remake (2005), instead and forget this one.

Yes   |   No


Charisse O.

OK, I got this movie because it sounded good. When it arrived, my husband said he had just watched it on HBO and that it was awesome. What I didn't know is that the movie I ordered was from 1976!!!!! He watched the remake. I have to say, this is the second worse movie I've seen only second to Crash Landing. We're suffering thru this, hoping it gets better, and I'm immediately adding the REMAKE to my queue.

Yes   |   No


Ed S.

With the exception of perhaps "American Beauty" and "The Crying Game", this was the worst movie I have ever seen. The Dialog, Plot, Acting and direction are what one would come to expect from amateur video. If the distributors would have marketed this as a "Spoof" or comedy along the lines of "Airplane and "Hot Shots" it would have been palatable, but as a Horror or Drama..NOT.....

Yes   |   No


Hugh C.

Like watching actors in the first year of acting school.

Yes   |   No


Barbara J.

Lousy acting, unrealistic, not content or plot. Still don't know what the plot was, if any.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (15)
     
    Tom R.

    This is a great early gang-violence film revolving around a siege against a defunct police station. Austin Stoker is terrific as the noble, sensible officer Bishop. Laurie Zimmer is strong and very sexy as Leigh, and both of them serve to upend the stereotypes that the real hero in an action film has to be a white male. The only white male hero in this picture is a murderer headed for death row (Darwin Joston). At this time in film, most of the high profile black film protoagonists were anti-heroes (Shaft, Superfly) and women were rarely strong and confident. And it would be nice to find more films with Laurie Zimmer in them.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Arthur L.

    There are not enough stars in the solar system to fairly rate how wonderful this flim is. There are only a handful of films that can be considered great...........Witness For The Prosecution, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Cassablanca. Assault On Precinct 13 not only is a great movie, but is at head of the class.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Mark L.

    This is a classic from the 70s. Classic Carpenter at his best, easy plot that doesn't need much explanation. John Carpenter defies the mainstream in casting Austin Stoker as the lead hero who is African American. We have a hardcore strong woman in Laurie Zimmer and a badass ex con that we want to root for despite knowing that he is a convict. Carpenter is genius!

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 15 Reviews
       

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