PANICBEATSbeginswithatotallynudewomanwithweltsonherbody,runningthroughamistyforestfullofdecayedskeletons.Aknightonhorsebackischasingher,andwesoonlearnthatheisAlaricdeMarnac(awickedcharacterNaschyfirstcreatedforHORRORRISESFROMTHETOMB),viciouslykillingherforherunfaithfulways.Afterthecreditsrole,wearetakentothepresentwhereadescendentofMarnacnamedPaul(Naschy)ismarriedtothewealthyGeneviève(JuliaSaly)washassomeseriousheartproblems.Pauldecidestotakehertohisancestralhomeinthecountryforsomepeaceandquiet,butthesuperstitious-filledsettingopensaPandora’sBoxofterribleoccurrences.
WesoondiscoverthatPaulisarealson-of-a-bitchwhoplanstoscarehiswifetodeath,planningtocontrolherfortuneandcontinuehissecretaffairwithseductivebadgirlMireille(SilviaMiró),whohappenstobethenieceofthetarotcard-readinghousekeeper,Mabile(LolaGaos).Paul’smalevolentschemeworks,buthestillhastoworryaboutanadditionalmoney-hungrymistress(thisguyreallygetsaround!),theunforgivingMabile,aswellasnewfianceéMireillewhomightbehidingathingortwoherself.Moregrislymurdersfollow,andtheghostofMarnacreturnsfromhelltopunishthemostdespicablehumancharacterinthefilm.
PANICBEATSwasalsowrittenbyNaschy(underhisrealnameJacintoMolina)whoinjectsthefilmwithanold-fashionedspookyhousemotif,beefedupwithamodernmoviesenseofviolenceandsexuality.Thefilmoffersnothingtooinnovativestorywise,andevenNaschyadmitsonthedisc’sextrasthatitwaspartlyinspiredbyGASLIGHTandREBECCA,butheseemstojusttossinahodgepodgeofexploitationandhorroringredients,whiledeliveringastylishandenjoyableeffortwithanumberoftwistsandsomegenuinelychillingmoments.Thecamerashotsandlightingarebotheffective,andthere'sevendoesacoolset-up(muchlikewhatFreddieFrancisdidinTHESKULLandTHECREEPINGFLESH)whereweseethepointofviewofMarnacthroughhisdarkhelmetashestalkshisfemaleprey.Graphically,weareexposedtoeverythingfromaplateofbloodyeyeballs,tovictimsbeingbeatenrelentlesslywiththevariousMedievalweaponsaffixedonthehouse’swalls(forexample,someoneisaxedinthestomach,followedbythesoakedentrailsoozingout!).Naschy’smostfrequent1980sleadinglady,JuliaSaly,isnotgivenmuchtodo,butwithheroffbeatlooks,isanicepresencenonetheless.TheprominentfemalestarhereisSilviaMirówhoisseeninthebufffrequently,andshecertainlymakesforsomewell-appreciatedEurostarleteyecandy.Naschyhimselfisverygoodinthefilm,puttingonconnivingfacades,carryinganumberofwomenonastring,beingarealmaliciousbastard,andfortheumpteenthtimeinhiscareer,playingtworolesinaonefilm.
妮可·基德曼,科林·费尔斯,马克·斯特朗,本·克朗普顿,安-玛莉·杜芙,亚当·利维,Gabriel Strong,Flynn MacArthur,克里斯·考林
徐少强,戚美珍,午马,雪梨
柴崎幸,市川海老藏,伊藤英明,中西美帆,麻衣子,片山瞳,根岸季衣,胜野洋,古谷一行
亚布拉哈姆·本鲁比,科斯塔斯·曼迪勒,里玛莉·娜妲
凯文·贝肯,安娜·克拉姆斯基,卡丽·普雷斯顿,Anna Lore,库珀·科奇,西奥·杰曼,奎维·坦,Bailey MB,海莉·格里菲斯,奥斯汀·克鲁特,马克·阿什沃斯,Jack Caron,Boone Platt,Darwin del Fabro,Monique Kim
詹姆斯·弗雷特,Nicky,约翰·亨肖