Sometimes the most entertaining films spring from the most simple premise. And no, I'm not talking about the simple premise of taking a classic film and churning out a bland soulless re-make. I'm talking about a basic scenario around which movie magic can be woven. Assault On Precinct 13 is one such movie. Director John Carpenter takes the basic concept of a police station under siege by a vengeful gang, and crafts a razor sharp little thriller with plenty of action thrown in.
It's Lt. Bishop's first day on the job, and he's given what should be a pretty cruisy first assignment. His job is to babysit a police station that's shutting down. As Bishop and the police skeleton crew settle in for a quiet night shift, they have no idea what they're in for. A few blocks away, a guy sees his daughter gunned down. He chases the gang that did it, and kills one of them. He then flees towards the police station, with the gang in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, a bus carrying death row inmates is forced to make a pitstop at Precinct 13 when one of them becomes violently ill. The three prisoners are put in a cell while the cops and warders try to figure out what to do. The guy that shot the gangmember runs into the station in a state of catatonic shock. From here on, business really picks up as cops and inmates are forced to co-exist and fight off the marauding gang outside as they try to avenge their brother's death.
This film is very effective. From Carpenter's synth. score, to paperwork catching bullets and flying all over the place, it manages to keep the viewer on the edge of his or her seat for the duration of the movie. No gang member ever makes a sound, or utters a word. It really gives the whole siege a decidedly chilly atmosphere. The gang is almost supernatural in its determination to get at the man who killed one of its own. Of course, anything this ambitious is bound to have weaknesses. The acting overall is just mediocre, along with some of the dialogue. I groaned every time Napoleon asked someone if they had a cigarette. Still, questionable dialogue is a minimal price to pay for this much action and suspense. |