A short, sharp film from John Carpenter that applies horror tropes to a non-supernatural situation so well that you wonder why it hasn't been done more often. Austin Stoker is brilliant as Lt Bishop, and the action is sparse but kinetic - particularly the brilliantly eerie hail of gunfire that rains down the police station halfway through the film. Some elements come across as a tad overcooked, particularly Napoleon's enigmatic world-view and his head-scratching flirtation with Leigh, but overall this is a stripped-down, brutal and hugely enjoyable film. Best of all is Carpenter's music score, which economically uses the same two themes over and over but they're so good you don't mind one bit.