Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Don't Panic Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 27, 2020

After making some noise with 1985’s Mexican horror film, “Cemetery of Terror,” writer/director Ruben Galindo Jr. tries to deliver something more Americanized for 1988’s “Don’t Panic.” Unfortunately, the helmer doesn’t have a game plan for the picture, which slaps together teen romance, family issues, and pieces of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” presented as a random ride between dimensions of reality featuring teen characters. The unintentional laughs come fast and furious with “Don’t Panic,” finding Galindo Jr. struggling to make sense of anything in the feature, fumbling with scares and unavoidable silliness as he attempts to pay tribute to the genre gods with this sloppy effort.

Relocated from Beverly Hills to Mexico City, Michael (Jon Michael Bischof) is celebrating his 17th birthday with friends who insist on toying with an Ouija board, finding pal Tony (Juan Ignacio Aranda) delighted with this connection to the dark side. The new kid at school, Michael meets Alex (Gabriela Hassel), with the pair quickly commencing a relationship. All seems to be going well for the California kid, but something was unleashed during the Ouija session, as Michael is soon taken over by a mysterious force that forces him to experience the future murders of his friends, rendering him temporarily blind. As bodies start to pile up, Michael grows desperate to understand what’s happening, soon coming into contact with an evil demon from another dimension.

To make points about teen innocence as spoon-fed as possible, Galindo Jr. transforms Michael into the most childlike 17-year-old kid the screen has ever seen. He’s enthusiastic about fast cars, respects his mother completely (even tolerating her alcoholism), and, well, he wears dinosaur pajamas to bed every single night. I’m not trying to shame the character. Wear your dino jammies, son, but I wonder how Michael got his hands on adult- sized dinosaur pajamas, and why he refuses to wash them. The eveningwear isn’t meant to be a big thing in “Don’t Panic,” but it becomes one in a hurry, acting the most ridiculous thing in a movie that’s filled with ridiculous things. You can’t take your eyes off those PJs.

Michael meets Alex, and within a day they’re acting like a married couple, with the young man turning to the powers of a magic rose to profess his undying love for the girl. The main character is besieged by horrific visions of murder, which isn’t clearly explained, only utilized by Galindo Jr. to help create some level of suspense in a story that doesn’t really have a defined antagonist until the finale. We watch Michael deal with heartbreak and sex, and when things really don’t go his way, he trashes his room for an extended amount of screen time. Michael is really a toddler, but “Don’t Panic” needs him to be a hero, sending him off into the night to defeat some type of demon with Alex’s brother, who’s also a juvenile but has access to big guns. There’s a lot going on in “Don’t Panic,” and little of it showcases filmmaking Galindo Jr.’s competence.

Don't Panic Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original negative," "Don't Panic" comes to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image presentation. Colors are appealingly refreshed throughout the viewing experience, offering distinct dinosaur pajama blues, reds, and yellows, and period fashion carries intensity as well, favoring pinks. Skintones are natural. Greenery is vivid. Detail is strong, especially with demonic happenings, finding makeup effects sharp and open for exploration. Facial particulars are textured, including pronounced body hair. Exteriors retain dimension. Delineation preserves frame information. Grain is heavy but film-like. Some slight judder is detected, along with a few damaged frames.

Don't Panic Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a simple track with pronounced sibilance issues during heated dialogue exchanges. Intelligibility isn't threatened. Scoring isn't precise, but synth stings are recognized, adding to suspense needs. Sound effects are blunt.

Don't Panic Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Ruben Galindo Jr.

• Commentary #2 features The Hysteria Continues.

• "Possessed by Horror" (24:52, HD) is an interview with Galindo Jr., who tracks his personal interests as a child, eventually settling on a filmmaking career with help from his father, an industry pro. While UCLA educated, Galindo Jr. returned to Mexico to help rescue the dying film industry, making his debut with "Cemetery of Terror," which gave him the success to carry on. For "Don't Panic," a specific choice was made to create an Americanized horror movie for an international audience, though the interviewee was more interested in suspense, not gore, finding assistance with the gruesome stuff from special effects designer Screaming Mad George. Casting is highlighted, revealing it was lead Jon Michael Bischof who purchased the dinosaur pajamas used in the feature, insisting he wear them. Galindo Jr. offers thoughts on his favorite scenes and admits he couldn't come up with an ending. He's also honest about the camp value of "Don't Panic." Release stories and cult appreciation for the endeavor close out the conversation.

• Alternate Spanish Titles (4:05, HD) are offered.

• And a Trailer has not been included on this release.

Don't Panic Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Don't Panic" isn't a film to be taken seriously. There are a few gore zone visits and flowing blood, but Galindo Jr. isn't completely committed to making a dark horror picture. He's after something a bit lighter and even romantic with the endeavor, which backfires almost immediately. Instead of producing chills, it's a feature that's ripe for a rediscovery by bad movie addicts, who are handed campy activities, production blunders, and those damn pajamas, tasked with turning a tiny production into a major cult experience for rowdy audiences. There's the entertainment value of the effort, which is practically begging for an interactive viewing