assault on precinct 13 (1976)

AKA John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13.
"There are no heroes anymore, Bishop. Just men who follow orders."
Bishop (Austin Stoker), a newly promoted police Lieutenant, is given the routine task of closing precinct 13 as the station moves to another location. On hand are a couple of secretaries and a sergeant, packing the few remaining items. This routine assignment suddenly gets more complex when a prison bus pulls into the station with the notorious Napoleon Wilson (Darwin Joston) on his way to death row. Then in stumbles an incoherent man, who unknown to them has killed a number of gang leaders. Soon the peace is shattered as the gang attack the station determined to wipe out all inside. Cut off from the outside world and very limited resources, how will they survive?
Carpenter builds an almost tangible sense of pensive unease, which finally explodes when the assault begins. The film is a homage to the western and is peppered with references to his favourites - see how many you can spot. A modern classic, from the brooding cinematography, through to the repetitive four note synthesizer theme.