Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - 5

This original is much better than the recent remake. The remake tries to turn the film into a conspiracy, while the original is pointing out the randomness, fear, and reality of gang violence. The characters are better developed because there are less of them. And John Carpenter doesn't direct himself into a corner by trying to explain everything through dialogue that no one would have in real life. In the remake the main character spends time with his therapist so the audience can figure out he hates his job and has nothing to lose in the politics of the police force. The body count in this film is high, and the survival mode of the characters is much more realistic than in most films of this genre. The nuances of the cops and criminals relationship after saving each others lives is well done. Because the fear is real, the tension in the film is high, and audience can fell like they survived.