Before I started Letterboxd, I was a huge fan of the Halloween franchise, so when I finally downloaded this app, I added just about every John Carpenter film to my watchlist. Assault on Precinct 13 is one of the longest sitting films on my watchlist and I finally got around to watching it. And man I wish I had seen this sooner.

Just two years before he was hired to direct Halloween, Carpenter wrote, directed and composed the score for this film, showing off his versatility we’d see (and hear) in his future works. This is a very interesting film about a street gang terrorizing the streets of LA. The street gang has no dialogue, just nonstop violence, reminiscent of a human portrayal of zombies. Carpenter’s score is another highlight, maybe one of the greatest synth scores of all time. Fun fact, Donald Pleasance’s daughter loved the score so much, she encouraged him to take the role in Halloween. An incredible solo debut from Carpenter, and without it, we wouldn’t get my favorite horror film of all time in Halloween.

Also, there’s a scene in here that was BOLD for 1976 and had my jaw on the floor. Those who’ve seen it know.

Featured Lists:
John Carpenter Ranked

Before I started Letterboxd, I was a huge fan of the Halloween franchise, so when I finally downloaded this app, I added just about every John Carpenter film to my watchlist. Assault on Precinct 13 is one of the longest sitting films on my watchlist and I finally got around to watching it. And man I wish I had seen this sooner.

Just two years before he was hired to direct Halloween, Carpenter wrote, directed and composed the score for this film, showing off his versatility we’d see (and hear) in his future works. This is a very interesting film about a street gang terrorizing the streets of LA. The street gang has no dialogue, just nonstop violence, reminiscent of a human portrayal of zombies. Carpenter’s score is another highlight, maybe one of the greatest synth scores of all time. Fun fact, Donald Pleasance’s daughter loved the score so much, she encouraged him to take the role in Halloween. An incredible solo debut from Carpenter, and without it, we wouldn’t get my favorite horror film of all time in Halloween.

Also, there’s a scene in here that was BOLD for 1976 and had my jaw on the floor. Those who’ve seen it know.

Featured Lists:
John Carpenter Ranked

So John Carpenter always loved cornered scenarios..

I've really gotta say this is an incredibly entertaining film.
The first 40 minutes are well spend building up the characters and perfectly setting up the following 50 minutes.
There was a moment where I doubted the pacing but now looking back at it, it was perfectly fine.
The filmmaking here is super fun and it just overall works.
However, it's not really anything beyond itself. It's a good time, the soundtrack's amazing and there is some emotional weight but nothing more than that. I was actually surprised tho by how much suspense it could build.

Weak 4 stars
Zombie movie without any zombies

So John Carpenter always loved cornered scenarios..

I've really gotta say this is an incredibly entertaining film.
The first 40 minutes are well spend building up the characters and perfectly setting up the following 50 minutes.
There was a moment where I doubted the pacing but now looking back at it, it was perfectly fine.
The filmmaking here is super fun and it just overall works.
However, it's not really anything beyond itself. It's a good time, the soundtrack's amazing and there is some emotional weight but nothing more than that. I was actually surprised tho by how much suspense it could build.

Weak 4 stars
Zombie movie without any zombies

Surely she could’ve just lived with normal vanilla

Surely she could’ve just lived with normal vanilla

just like night of the living dead but BETTER. definitely in my top 5 john carpenter films. the score and the slower pacing really make it work. it’s low budget, but it never feels like it. the atmosphere carries it and the characters are solid. carpenter was on a crazy run from the 70s to the 90s

just like night of the living dead but BETTER. definitely in my top 5 john carpenter films. the score and the slower pacing really make it work. it’s low budget, but it never feels like it. the atmosphere carries it and the characters are solid. carpenter was on a crazy run from the 70s to the 90s

L’idea di base è semplice e nulla di troppo originale, ha degli elementi però che lo rendono veramente swag. Aura Wilson. Per me è un film “simbolo” del 3,5/5 di recensione.

L’idea di base è semplice e nulla di troppo originale, ha degli elementi però che lo rendono veramente swag. Aura Wilson. Per me è un film “simbolo” del 3,5/5 di recensione.