Assault on Precinct 13
Assault on Precinct 13 is a 1976 film from the USA, directed by John Carpenter, running 91 minutes. reelscum files it under vigilante.
- Year
- 1976 · 1970s films
- Country
- USA
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Director
- John Carpenter
- Updated
- 10 Aug 2026
- Obscurity
- canon (13/100)
- Also known as
- John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 · The Anderson Alamo · The Siege
Defined in the glossary: Vigilante
Carpenter remaking Rio Bravo for $100,000. The ice cream scene is still shocking.
John Carpenter remakes Rio Bravo as an urban siege for around $100,000, and turns limitation into style. A nearly-abandoned Los Angeles police station comes under relentless assault from a silent street gang, and the cops and criminals trapped inside have to hold together to survive the night.
Carpenter's synth score, widescreen framing and refusal to explain the gang's motive give it a stripped-down menace. The ice-cream-truck scene remains shocking. It is a masterclass in doing a lot with nothing.
Early Carpenter at his leanest and most assured.
Trailer
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Where to watch
Legal options in USA
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Filed alongside
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