I Watch Films: Assault On Precinct 13 (2005)

 

Assault On Precinct 13 (2005)

A loose remake of the 1976 film. Sergeant Roenik (Ethan Hawke) of the Detroit police has an undercover operation go wrong. Now injured, abusing drink and drugs, he, another officer and the secretary are holding down Precinct 13 on New Year’s Eve; it’s going to be shut down in the new year (it’s in an industrial district which is also closing down). That afternoon he has an assessment by his psychologist, which doesn’t go terribly well.

Crime Boss Marion Bishop (Laurence Fishburne) has been arrested after killing an undercover cop. He’s being transferred to prison with three other prisoners when a snowstorm has them divert the bus to Precinct 13. The weather also turns back the psychologist.

Bishop had a deal with dirty cops; they want him dead before he can get in front of a judge, or even a DA and inform on them. They attempt to break into the cells and kill him, but Roenik stops them. Not knowing what’s going on and cut off. the cops, civilians and prisoners inside form an uneasy alliance to hold out.

So the same basic tactical situation as the 1976 version. But thirty years on, the threat is not violent gangs wanting to get revenge on a man who shot one of their own (in turn getting revenge etc etc) but corrupt police officers wanting to get rid of a criminal who can get them caught. It’s not a hot Southern California night but a frozen Detroit New Year. The leader of our precinct isn’t newly promoted, being given this close-down-the-station assignment as he doesn’t have regular duties, but a beaten down sergeant being kept out the way. The prisoners are still stereotypes, but Bishop has an icy stoicism. They made Assault On Precinct 13 Grimdark! Amazing, though not in an especially interesting or good way.

Watch This: Gritty dark siege of police station
Don’t Watch This: Opening up the film in this way loses the tension and claustrophobia