Panic (1982) - Quick Review
Panic
AKA Bakterion
Directed By Tonino Ricci
Released: 1982
Starring: David Warbeck, Janet Argen
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Studio: Mill Creek
A scientist experimenting on rats gets turned into a murderous monster for some reason and it’s up to his lab assistant Jane (Janet Argen) and a police captain (David Warbeck) to stop him. Or something like that. I was confused as to whether or not the guy is contagious. The government is bent on destroying the city if Captain Kirk (that’s Warbeck’s character by the way) doesn’t stop the mutated scientist in time, so maybe he was contagious. Although, all our monster really does in the movie is drink blood, melt skin, and molest women to death.
It’s great to see David Warbeck of The Beyond kicks some ass (as usual) in a thankless role in a pitiful movie. Speaking of thankless roles, Swedish beauty Janet Argen, of City Of The Living Dead and Eaten Alive, is particularly stiff and confused in this film but it’s still nice to see her. Direction and photography are both very dull though there are a couple of decent shots scattered throughout the movie. This is all topped off with redundant dialogue, a confusing and pathetic plot, and Ed Woodian moments such as when the government talks about resorting to “Plan Q”.
Panic is only for the most desperate of Eurohorror fans and even they will be disappointed. Supposedly filmed in 1976 and then shelved until 1982; either way, this film is a real snoozer. Sadly, the Mill Creek DVD has all the nude scenes cut out so the film could be potentially spicier in an uncut form. But fortunately, it looks like the gore is intact but don’t expect anything really remarkable. There’s some goopiness and a lot of blood but not enough for gorehounds to go out of their way for. Panic truly is one of the most pitiful Italian horror films I’ve ever seen.
A dubbed David Warbeck is still David Warbeck.
Janet Argen is feathered.
Eww! Can we get a closer look at that?
Eww! Thanks.
Whoa, haunting. How the hell am I gonna sleep tonight?
July 14th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The question of the Doctor’s contagiousness puzzled me, too. I think someone even calls it highly contagious, which is somewhat hard to believe. But hey, they call it deadly, too, and the Doc is not all that pretty anymore, but looks alive to me.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hey thanks. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one confused by that nonsense. Did you see the giant mutated rat? I should have a gotten a screenshot of that shit. It was one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” moments but it was pretty hilarious. I dig your blog by the way.
-Richard of DM
July 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Yeah, I did see the rat. That actually got my hopes up a little for giant rats instead of an asthmatic blueberry-face.
Thanks, I like yours too, and the Moviethons, of course. I wouldn’t have the endurance for those myself.