JOHN CARPENTER 'ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13' W/ LAURIE ZIMMER

year: 1976 cast: Austin Stoker, Laurie Zimmer, Kim Richards

JOHN CARPENTER is the renown “Master of Horror,” and his scary films, often mixed with science fiction, followed this '70s low-budget crime/exploitation. And thanks to the Panavision, the gliding camera, and an ominous synthesized score, his latter classics owe a lot to this gritty, urban predecessor.

ASSAULT Rates: ****

Loosely based on Howard Hawks' RIO BRAVO, the plot centers on a nearly vacant police precinct about to be closed as Austin Stoker, a dependable cop, is sent to oversee the transition. Meanwhile, on the streets outside, a gang of bloodletting criminals gun down a little girl played by Kim Richards. Her father kills the leader and runs for shelter at the precinct while the vengeful thugs, like Indians in the Westerns Carpenter grew up watching, surround the precinct.

Shout Factory busy Cover

It’s now the good guys verses the bad guys: yet one of the heroes is a convicted killer, played with slow burn cool by Darwin Joston who, with Stoker and gorgeous yet tough office worker Laurie Zimmer between mousy office girl Nancy Loomis, fight off the antagonists within the darkened, claustrophobic confides.

The first half, setting up the precinct and the city streets… more of a barren wasteland than a lethal metropolis… wields the patented Carpenter long shots with mesmerizing suspense in an intentionally slow manner, far exceeding the last half as the frantic trio battle unseen exterior forces. And while the lead actors have chemistry with each other, their performances are often so low-key and monotone you’ll long to see the goons beyond the precinct walls. But Frank Doubleday, as the gangland sniper setting the entire plot into motion, is the most memorable: reminiscent of the sinister forces Carpenter would use later on.

John Carpenter soon-to-be regulars Charles Cyphers & Nancy Loomis with Laurie Zimmer

Austin Stoker, Laurie Zimmer and Darwin Joston in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13

Austin Stoker, Laurie Zimmer and Darwin Joston in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13

A Papillon like poster image of Nancy Loomis and Laurie Zimmer in Assault on Precinct 13

Noir blinds shadowy look in Assault on Precinct 13 w/ Laurie Zimmer and Austin Stoker

Austin Stoker, Laurie Zimmer in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13

Charles Cyphers and Charles Cyphers in John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13

Laurie Zimmer and a tough stroll in John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13

Laurie Zimmer with Nancy Loomis in the background in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13

Laurie Zimmer Assault on Precinct 13 Laurie Zimmer John Carpenter

Halloween's Cute and pointy Nancy Loomis begins her Carpenter's training in Assault on Precinct 13

Frank Doubleday is a backseat driver assassin in Assault on Precinct 13

Escape from New York's Romero in Carpenter's second feature Assault on Precinct 13 Frank Doubleday

Kim Richards enjoys the final flavor

"Why didn't I just stay at Witch Mountain?"

"Why are you on that stupid reality show? See where it got you?"