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Plot: 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

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Recent Reviews


  • 2.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 15, 2008
    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.
  • Want To See
    MCT:
    January 13, 2008
    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 me of "Mr Brooks")
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 11, 2008
    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 out.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
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 25, 2006
    This movie is really good! It talks about family life, life problems and such. Neve looked really pretty and innocent (she wasn't THAT innocent)..and Donald Sutherland is one CRAZY dad!
  • 1.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 18, 2006
    A slow-paced borefest. This film had the potential to be so much better than it was. The writing is mediocre and the directing is very average. The writer/director Henry Bromell trys to get the viewer to feel for the lead character Alex, even though he is a hitman. It really, is just impossible to like such a character.

    The one good thing about this film is the magnificent performance by Donald Sutherland, it was absolutely fantastic, and relished the opportunity to play the "Bad Guy". As I said before, this had the potential (and should of been) much better than what the final result was.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 30, 2006
    Something different form all parties. Panic is evenly placed with an original story, though relys too much on the characters and actors for that matter, than concentrating on the story. Which in itslef is predictable(except for the end) and somewhat unexciting. Good(not great) performances by all though.

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Details


  • Rated: (R)
  • Directed by: Henry Bromell
  • Genres: Drama
  • Released: December 1, 2000
  • DVD Released: October 23, 2001

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