Spirit of Independence Film Festival presents Assault on Precinct 13

In a near-empty police station on the edge of Los Angeles, the night shift is about to become a siege.

As the old Precinct 13 prepares to close its doors for good, a small, unlikely group finds themselves trapped inside – a desk sergeant, a pair of secretaries, a prisoner in transit, and a handful of civilians seeking refuge.

Outside, a relentless street gang surrounds the station. Cut off from help and armed with little more than a few rifles and their wits, the people inside must form an uneasy alliance to survive the night.

Released in 1976, Assault on Precinct 13 was the breakthrough film from legendary director John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China). Inspired as much by Rio Bravo as by gritty 1970s urban crime cinema, Carpenter’s stripped-down thriller combines pulsing synth music, razor-sharp tension, and a siege narrative that never lets up.

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Assault on Precinct 13 remains one of the most influential independent action-horror films ever made – a lean, relentless classic that still hits with full force.

Alongside the main feature, the evening will include a selection of special extras to complete the grindhouse-style experience.

Before the film, we’ll be screening a short from the Spirit of Independence Film Festival archives — I Called You — Home alone after a night out, Sammy finds signs of an intruder and must convince the Police she is in danger. But should they believe her?

We’ll also be rolling a curated reel of film-adjacent trailers from the same gritty era and genre as Assault on Precinct 13 — a trip back to the days of drive-ins, exploitation cinema, and stripped-down action thrillers that defined 1970s cult filmmaking.

And as an added bonus for the night, all attendees will be entered into a free raffle, with a chance to win a selection of film-related prizes.