Assault on Precinct 13

Justice In Film Part 2

Assault on Precinct 13, the classic 1976 John Carpenter film, also has a remake. Much like Dredd, the 2012 remake of Judge Dredd, Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) is nothing more than a de-imagining of the original.

John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 is a fascinating film from a cinematographic perspective. The film as written is little more than a crime exploitation flick featuring gratuitous violence and unsavory characters. What makes it interesting is how it is filmed in the style of a horror movie. Much like Carpenter’s own The Thing (1982), this film spends a great deal of time building tension for the reveal of the “monster,” mainly utilizing simple musical cues and suspense.