Panic — Panic(DVD)
Panic (aka Bakterion, Monster of Blood) is an early 80’s European horror/ sci-fi film set in the UK. It regards a scientist who experiments with deadly bacteria- becoming a horribly deformed killer, who goes on a rampage. The film very much sits in the bad cinema bracket- bringing together unintentionally amusing dialogue, some very wooden acting, a few moments of gore death, and neat enough creature effects. Here from Cheezy Films is a region-free DVD release of the film.
Panic is from the year 1982- it was an Italian/ Spanish production. Directed by Rome-born Tonino Ricci-between the late 60’s and late 80’s he had twenty-two credits to his name, and his output very much sits in the trashy side of euro cult cinema. All children actor western comedy Bad Kids of the West( 1973), sharksploitation set in the Bermuda Triangle Cave of the Sharks(1978), Conan rip off Thor the Conqueror(1983), and bad action/ adventure film Raiders Of The Magic Ivory(1988).
The film features David Warbeck as trenchcoat-wearing & chain-smoking Captain Kirk(!). He’s brought in by the UK government to track down a scientist who was experimenting with deadly bacteria, and has gone missing. He’s helped by the scientist's blond assistant Jane(Janet Agren).
To start with it begins rather like a murder mystery- as both Kirk, and the police find one body after another- with limbs hacked off, backbones uncovered, and bloody dripping faces. Then we sort of drop into a pandemic thriller meets monster search- as the army is ready to bomb out a large area, to kill both the scientist and the bacteria he carries. So Kirk's time is limited
As a formally good euro-horror sci-fi film- this is far from great, the pacing is often out with overlong chatting in office or lab sets. The acting is largely very wooden & bland- with Warbeck really playing the same role he always plays. The monster effects, when we finally get to see them are very rubbery.
But as bad film fare- this certainly has its moments, the dubbing is terrible & often unintentionally amusing- with some great lines, hell even at one point Warbeck himself has a line about ‘bad acting’. We get a good few scenes of folks looking mockingly shocked, and some of the effects have a Herschell Gordon Lewis quality to them. We also get a good selection of stock footage of London, and more than one or two London buses. Oh, and the ice-thrower finale is neat enough
The DVD is a region-free affair. And the print isn’t too bad by some of Cheezy Films releases- been well enough defined & balanced, though I’m not sure if it’s been digitally remastered. We get nothing aside from a trailer reel as extras.
In finishing if you enjoy bad-their-good euro horror/sci-fi, or are a fan of Mr Warbeck’s work- then Panic will certainly appeal....otherwise maybe approach with some caution.