6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
While on a fishing trip, Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland) and his family hear an explosion and realize that Los Angeles has been leveled by a nuclear attack. Looters and killers are everywhere. Escaping to the hills with his family, he sets about the business of surviving in a world where, he knows, the old ideals of humanity will be first casualties. Not one to give up, he holds up a store for supplies and hides the family in a cave.
Starring: Ray Milland, Jean Hagen, Frankie Avalon, Mary Mitchel, Joan FreemanHorror | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Ray Milland pulls double duty in 1962’s “Panic in Year Zero,” directing and starring in a post-apocalyptic tale that doesn’t have the budget to imagine the end of the world, but does just fine with elements of dread. A bold depiction of doomsday survival, the feature bravely looks at the chaos following a nuclear attack, doing so during a period in time when the end of the world was an all too real possibility. Milland doesn’t try to suffocate his audience, instead keeping “Panic in Year Zero” surprisingly buoyant, filling the effort with chases, shoot-outs, and heated confrontations, making it more of an exploitation endeavor than a requiem for the American Way.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a very bright and clean look at the limited visuals of "Panic in Year Zero." Detail is consistent, delivering proper textures with facial close-ups and costuming, and outdoor adventures retain depth. Black and white cinematography is balanced, preserving delineation throughout. Source is in encouraging shape, with only a few blips of damage, while speckling isn't intrusive.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix securely details the limited but effective "Panic in Year Zero" listening experience. Music is commanding but never overwhelming, providing jazzy blasts to help motivate the odd mood of the effort. Dialogue changes are sharp and tight, handling emotional extremes without distortion. Atmospherics and sound effects are pronounced, but add to the energy of the picture. Mild popping is detected throughout.
If there's one thing that doesn't work in "Panic in Year Zero," it's the score from Les Baxter. Selecting a jazz to backdrop mass death, Baxter destroys critical moments of personal ruin with his high-flying music, which has the tendency to turn shocking scenes into unintentional comedy. However, it's a mild criticism in a feature that believes in pace, remains well-acted by the cast, and wisely takes a nuclear threat seriously, out to unnerve those used to pulled punches when it comes to depicting the breakdown of society.
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