The American Genre Film Archive (AGFA), the largest non-profit genre film archive and distributor in the world, has announced theatrical screenings of John Carpenter’s ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, fully restored in 4K.
Yes, newly restored in 4K, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 is back on a big screen near you thanks to the fine folks over at the American Genre Film Archive. Formed in 2009, the AGFA is a non-profit group that exists to preserve the legacy of genre movies through collection, conservation, and distribution. Based in Austin, Texas, they house theatrical and home video distribution arms, a 4K film scanner, and over six thousand film prints.
Now they’re taking a fully restored 4K version of Carpenter’s cult masterpiece across North America.
Written, directed, scored, and edited by John Carpenter two years prior to HALLOWEEN, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 combines the template of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with the spirit of RIO BRAVO to forge a movie like no other.
The story follows a group of police offers (including the mighty Austin Stoker) and convicts as they join forces inside a soon-to-be-closed L.A. police station. The reason? They must defend themselves against Street Thunder, a vicious gang who have taken a blood oath to kill someone trapped inside the precinct.
Combining gritty action with arthouse style, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 features powerful Cinemascope compositions, a pulsing synth score, and an immersive mood that only Carpenter can deliver.
Although Assault on Precinct 13 is considered to be one of the greatest and most underrated action films of the 1970s, this wasn’t always the case, certainly not in America where it didn’t enjoy any success critically or commercially. It was Europe where it found an audience, even opening the 1977 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews and fanfare from the British film community. North American audiences would eventually warm up to it, resulting in a 2005 remake by director Jean-François Richet, starring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne.
So, here’s your chance to see this now cult-classic in a glorious 4K restoration. Here’s the full list of screenings…
1/11 – 1/13 – Globe Cinema / Calgary, Canada
week of 1/20 – Gateway Film Center / Columbus, OH
week of 1/20 – Screenland Armour / Kansas City, MO
week of 1/20 – Majestic Theaters Tempe / Phoenix, AZ
week of 1/20 – Music Box / Chicago, IL
week of 1/27 – The Beacon / Seattle, WA
week of 1/27 – Somerville Theater / Somerville, MA
week of 1/27 – Plaza Theater / Atlanta, GA
week of 1/27 – Charlotte Film Society / Charlotte, NC
1/22 – Digital Gym / San Diego, CA
1/26 – Crosstown Arts / Memphis, TN
starting 1/26 – Rio Theatre / Vancouver, BC
1/27 – 1/30 – Frida Cinema / Santa Ana, CA
1/29 – 2/1 – Metro Cinema / Edmonton, Canada
throughout Feb 2023 – Winnipeg Film Society / Winnipeg, Canada
2/3 – Charles Theater / Baltimore, MD
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse DTLA / Los Angeles, CA
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan / NYC
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse New Mission / San Francisco, CA
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Park North / San Antonio, TX
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh / Raleigh, NC
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake / Denver, CO
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar / Austin, TX
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island / NYC
week of 2/3 – Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers / Yonkers, NY
week of 2/3 – Mayfair Theater / Ottawa, ON
week of 2/3 – Hollywood Theater / Portland, OR
week of 2/3 – Cinema Arts Centre / Huntington, NY
2/6 – Nitehawk Prospect Park / NYC
2/17 – 2/18 – Late Nite Grindhouse / St. Louis, MO
2/25 – University of Wisconsin Cinematheque / Madison, WI
week of 3/10 – Ragtag Cinema / Columbia, MO
3/17 – 3/19 – Trylon Cinema / Minneapolis, MN
Check out AGFA’s original theatrical trailer…
For more information, visit the American Film Genre Archive website.
