Assault on Precinct 13

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.