Panic poster & wallpaper

William H. Macy, Neve Campbell, Donald Sutherland

When Sarah (Neve Campbell) strikes up a conversation with a sad-eyed man called Alex (William H. Macy) at her therapist's office, she asks, "Are you one of those middle-aged guys who's tired of his ma...( read more  read more... )rriage and thinking maybe a beautiful young thing could help him out?" She's right, but the source of Alex's depression is far from typical: he's a second-generation hit man who wants out, but his mom and dad won't let him quit.

Donald Sutherland makes Alex's laconic and utterly monstrous father the most frightening parent since John Huston in Chinatown. A series of flashbacks show how he introduced Alex to his trade, beginning with shooting squirrels in the woods. We never find out whether Alex's father has mob connections, and the fact that it's just a business to him ("This one's a big job, lots of moola, I'll buy your mother a Lexus") makes him all the more chilling. Alex's mother (the steely Barbara Bain) knows all about the family business, but his wife (Tracey Ullman) thinks he runs a mail-order company, and the only person he confides in is a therapist (John Ritter). When he meets and falls for Sarah, Alex realizes that he alone can stand up to his father, and he needs to act before his own son becomes the next apprentice.

Henry Bromell's debut film as a writer-director probes the same dark corners of the middle-aged male psyche as American Beauty and The Sopranos. Alex's tormented life is a symbol of the damage that parents can inflict on their children, and Bromell imbues his story with a tragic inevitability. Panic received a shamefully limited theatrical release, in spite of its rare combination of a great script and brilliant performances. It deserves to be rediscovered and appreciated by a much larger audience on home video. --Simon Leake

Flixster Users

51% liked it

2,611 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

51 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Henry Bromell

Release Date: December 1, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 23, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (122)

  • clooneyfan
    April 15, 2008
    clooneyfan
    This was not one of my favorite William H. Macy films. I'm glad he killed his old man in the end, though. He saved his son from growning up the same way.
  • Maic0
    August 21, 2009
    Maic0
    You really can't go wrong with a William H. Macy film. When it comes to sweet indie films the guy really does pick from the best. And when you add Neve Campbell and Donald Sutherland into the mix, you're just asking for a film that will deliver on all levels. And this film does j...( read more)ust that.
    It's a crime drama of sorts, where we follow Macy's character Alex through some deep seated emotional problems. Alex was recruited as a hitman by his father, Sutherland, from what we are led to believe as a very young age. As a man approaching middle age he begins to question his career and other aspects of his home life. Deciding to see a psychiatrist, in the waiting room he unexpectedly meets Sarah, a girl he becomes infatuated with, played by Campbell. And we can't exactly blame him either. Fortunately for him, she too develops a strange and unexplainable attraction to him.
    The film explores his strange relationship with Sarah, the conflicts he has with his father and the marital problems he has with his wife.
    Henry Bromell wasn't a name I was familiar with, but writing and directing this film, I think he did a terrific job. He's not done many films, mainly television work and mostly credited as a producer. But after this, if he ever decides to turn his hand to movie making again, I'd certainly be willing to check it out and I do hope he does.
    For some reason this film always manages to slip under the radar and I don't understand why. Macy once again proves himself to be a very talented actor who doesn't make films because of money or fame, but because he enjoys it. He could quite easily be in big budget blockbusters but he always tends to stick to quality and low budget. I admire him immensely for this as i'm sure there is quite a bit of temptation out there. (And we'll forgive him for Wild Hogs no matter how terrible it was).
    Neve Campbell is also one of those actors that tend to do films like this one. After her fame with the Scream trilogy, she's quite happy to fall out of the public eye and come up with performances that she deserves more credit for.
    Definatly one to check out. You should never pass up the opportunity to see any of the films these actors as involved with.
  • jam233
    August 9, 2009
    jam233
    Fine story, a little too slow moving, but the cast is great, particularly William H. Macy. Good writing. Barbara Bain is fine in a supporting role.
  • altatens
    June 21, 2009
    altatens
    Looks boring - not even tempted to watch it.
  • bbliumis
    January 21, 2009
    bbliumis
    enjoyable!
    nothing new but enjoyable!
  • Cimeri1
    November 8, 2008
    Cimeri1
    What an Amazing movie. I love this kind of movie slow intelligent and also very good performance from all actors.
    The story was excellent great characters. I love this movie.
  • steven495
    January 13, 2008
    steven495
    Just the description of this film makes it sound interesting in the first place, then there's the cast... black comedy with a bullet shaped bite or bang... looking forward to this one.

    (In truth I Can't comment on similar films until I've seen it but thematically it does remind ...( read more)me of "Mr Brooks")
  • scottydgibbs
    January 11, 2008
    scottydgibbs
    another showcase role for william h macy, macy stars as a hitman in therapy, and before you think not again, analyse this, did it very well,and six series of exellent sopranoes, he does a very good job. as getting on in life, macy decides the hitman life isnt for him, and needs o...( read more)ut.while in waiting room, he meets a much younger wmen, also in therapy, played by neve cambell, and is istantly drawn to her, but also to make matters worse, his boss, also his father, gives him his latest hit, his shrink, and for ovioous reasons has doughts about this, with his friendship with campbell in full swing, wil life come crashing down, macy a joy to watch, lets face it has he ever been bad, even in crap, hes great, he plays his sad man role well here, great scenes of emotion as well, a nice small role for donald sutherland as well
  • homien9
    December 21, 2007
    homien9
    pretty good!!!!!!!!!!! this movie is very weird!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Critic Reviews

April 5, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A black-comedy gem. full review

February 7, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A first film made with joy and with a writer's gift for character and dialogue. full review

February 7, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The movie equivalent of a great read at the beach. full review

View more Panic reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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