Panic (2000)

Director:

Henry Bromell

Writer (WGA):

Henry Bromell (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 2001 (Singapore)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A Story of Family, Lust, Murder ...and Other Midlife Crises

Plot:

The story of Alex, who tries to get out of the Family Company but his father wont let him. While seeking the help of a therapist he meets a sexually-charged-23-year-old Girl, who he falls in love with.

Plot Keywords:

Family Business | Marriage | Affair | Infidelity | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

William H. Macy	...	Alex
John Ritter	...	Dr. Josh Parks
Neve Campbell	...	Sarah Cassidy
Donald Sutherland	...	Michael
Tracey Ullman	...	Martha
Barbara Bain	...	Deidre
David Dorfman	...	Sammy
Tina Lifford	...	Dr. Leavitt
Bix Barnaba	...	Louie
Nicholle Tom	...	Tracy
Thomas Curtis	...	Alex - Age 7
Andrea Baker	...	Candice (as Andrea Taylor)
Steve Moreno	...	Sean
Erica Ortega	...	Rachel
Greg Pitts	...	Alex - Age 20
Stewart J. Zully	...	Eddie
Miguel Sandoval	...	Detective Larson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nick Cassavetes	...	(unconfirmed)
Steve Valentine	...	(unconfirmed)

Directed by
Henry Bromell

Writing credits (WGA)
Henry Bromell		(written by)

Produced by
David Cooper	....	executive producer
Matt Cooper	....	producer
Glenn S. Gainor	....	line producer
Jody Hedien	....	co-producer
Andrew Lazar	....	producer
Lori Miller	....	producer
Carol S. Trussel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Jeff Jur		(as Jeffrey Jur)

Film Editing by
Lynzee Klingman
Cindy Mollo
Brent White

Casting by
Matthew Barry
Nancy Green-Keyes

Production Design by
Dan Bishop

Art Direction by
Daniel Bradford

Set Decoration by
Emma Fairley

Costume Design by
Susan Matheson

Makeup Department
Nathalie Allen	....	makeup artist
Susan A. Cabral	....	key makeup artist (as Susan Cabral Ebert)
Audree Futterman	....	key hair stylist (as Audrey Futterman-Stern)
Lydia Milars	....	makeup artist
Thomas Opitz	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Bryan Bishop	....	post-production supervisor (as Bryan C. Bishop)
Debra L. Gainor	....	production supervisor
Glenn S. Gainor	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stacey Holmes	....	second second assistant director
Wendi Lampassi	....	second assistant director
John Nelson	....	first assistant director (as John M. Nelson)

Art Department
Scott Buckwald	....	prop master (as Scott A. Buckwald)
David Clark	....	assistant property master
Agee Clayton	....	swing gang (as Aggy Clayton)
Andre Combs	....	swing gang (as André Alise Combs)
Karen Greene	....	set painter
Alan K. Harrison	....	set dresser
Paul Linkogle	....	swing gang
Noel McCarthy	....	swing gang (as Noel J. McCarthy)
Ed McGrady	....	swing gang (as Edward McGrady)
Marilyn Morgan	....	on-set dresser
Neil O'Sullivan	....	lead man
Missy Parker	....	art department coordinator
Brandon Peterson	....	storyboard artist
Bernadette Repasi	....	shopper
Suzette Stotts	....	lead scenic
Thomas 'Noe' Welch	....	swing gang

Sound Department
Steve Arcabascio	....	utility operator
Joe Barnett	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Ross Davis	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rob Disner	....	utility operator (as Robert Disner)
Jed M. Dodge	....	adr supervisor
Scott Doorley	....	utility operator
Matt Dubin	....	engineer: digital transfer
Paula Fairfield	....	supervising sound editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer (as Alan 'Danger' Freedman)
Cormac Funge	....	sound effects editor
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
Chato Hill	....	assistant sound editor
C.W. Jones	....	foley mixer
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Kevin Maloney	....	boom operator
David Mann	....	foley editor
Carla Murray	....	sound effects editor
Bryan Pennington	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Tim Philben	....	sound re-recording mixer
Yuri Reese	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Richard D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Richard Rogers)
Steve Scoville	....	dialogue editor
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer
Johanna Turner	....	engineer: digital transfer
Ed White	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Greg Landerer	....	pyrotechnician (as Gregory C. Landerer)
L.A. McConnell	....	pyrotechnician (as Lee McConnell)

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	hazeltine optical element timing: THDX (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	maintitle and in-show optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
Bobby C. King	....	stunt coordinator
Nathan Siebring	....	stunts
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts
Bobby C. King	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tracy Bennett	....	still photographer (as Tracey Bennet)
Craig Bilodeau	....	grip
Chris Brow	....	dolly grip (as Christopher N. Brow)
Steve Colgrove	....	rigging gaffer
Don Devine	....	camera operator
Jennifer Ann Henry	....	second assistant camera
Greg Jarrett	....	electrician (as Gregory Jarrett)
Pete Johnson	....	key grip
John Joyce	....	Steadicam operator
Shane Kelly	....	electrician
Chris Kovalski	....	grip
Giovani Lampassi	....	chief lighting technician
Bill-Brady Majors	....	best boy grip (as Bill Brady-Majors)
Bill-Brady Majors	....	key rigger (as Bill Brady-Majors)
Bruce D. McDonald	....	electrician (as Bruce McDonald)
Eric Moore	....	best boy electric (as Eric 'Pine Mountain' Moore)
Jerry Mundy	....	electrician (as Jerry 'Grape Ape' Mundy)
Caleb Nelson	....	grip (as Caleb R. Nelson)
Perry H. Patterson	....	first assistant camera
Ralph Pichler	....	first assistant Steadicam (as Ralph Pitchler)
John T. Pouncey	....	camera loader (as John Pouncey)
Jesse Wine	....	electrician
Jennifer Ann Henry	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
David Anthony	....	extras casting: background players
Judy Cook	....	extras casting: background players
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting: The Loop Group

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeannine Bourdaghs	....	costume supervisor (as Jeanine Bourdaghs)
Bradley Inaba	....	costume assistant
Susan Strubel	....	key set costumer (as Susan M. Strubel)

Editorial Department
Julia Drumheller	....	assistant editor
Bob Fredrickson	....	color timer (as Bob Frederickson)

Music Department
Gary Calamar	....	music supervisor
Christopher Lennertz	....	orchestrator
Michael Nielsen	....	music editor (as Michael Nielson)
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Scott Rouse	....	music editor
Brian Tyler	....	conductor
Brian Tyler	....	orchestrator
Jeff Vaughn	....	score recording engineer

Transportation Department
Billy Colbert	....	transportation coordinator
Mac 'Buck' Cook	....	driver
John De Troia	....	transportation captain (as John V. Detroia)
Troy Gould	....	driver
Chip Henderson	....	driver
Jeffrey F. Jones	....	driver (as Jeffrey Jones)
Mike Mancini	....	driver
Victor Moore	....	driver: honeywagon (as Victor A. Moore)
Don Riesau	....	driver (as Donald L. Riesau)
Ray Stuart	....	driver
Chris Walden	....	driver: production van (as Chris D. Walden)
Dave Walden Jr.	....	transportation captain (as David 'Junior' Walden II)

Other crew
Jann Andersen	....	caterer: Pascal's Catering
Sarah Anthony	....	assistant: Ms. Miller
Pascal Besse	....	caterer: Pascal's Catering
Marcy Brown	....	stand-in
Keith Burrell	....	assistant production accountant
Nick Ciraldo	....	set intern
Roxa Crow	....	studio teacher: Terrific Teachers (as Roxa Crowe)
Kerry Da Silva	....	set production assistant (as Kerry Dasilva)
Todd A. Decker	....	set production assistant (as Todd Decker)
Guin Dill	....	animal wrangler: Paws for Effect (as Guin Noland)
Kathy Duliakas	....	unit publicist
Phil Eisenhower	....	studio teacher: Terrific Teachers
Tony Ervolina	....	stand-in
Brendan Garst	....	production coordinator
Michael Goldberg	....	production accountant
Frank Gunn	....	caterer: Pascal's Catering
Kent Hamilton	....	insurance: Truman Van Dyke
Gilbert Hernandez	....	security officer
Gym Hinderer	....	assistant: Mr. Lazar
Annette Hobday	....	set production assistant (as Annette Hawley)
Edward Holley	....	set production assistant
Daniel Kamil	....	assistant: Mr. Bromell
Nancy Karlin	....	script supervisor
Clark Mansfield	....	liaison: L.A.P.D.
Craig Marks	....	stand-in
Chandra Marrs	....	animal wrangler: Paws for Effect
Lynne Martin	....	set production assistant
Megan Melcher	....	set intern
David Y. Okata	....	assistant location manager
Irwin M. Rappaport	....	legal services (as Irwin Rappaport Esq.)
Christina Richard	....	craft service
George A. Romero	....	set medic
Rick Saloomey	....	production secretary
Julie Schultz	....	animal wrangler: Paws for Effect
Robert 'Skid' Skidmore	....	set production assistant
Jim Switzer	....	payroll services: All Payments Services Inc.
Tony Whitmore	....	set medic
Sean Wicks	....	assistant: Mr. Lazar
Brett Williams	....	location manager
Michael Anthony	....	location manager (uncredited)
Christopher Lee	....	location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Robert Altman	....	special thanks
Joey Alvarez	....	special thanks
Peter Benedek	....	special thanks
Seth Berg	....	special thanks
Willie Bromell	....	special thanks
Bill Buckley	....	special thanks: Rogers & Cowell
William B.	....	special thanks (as William B)
Alice Calamar	....	special thanks
Nick Cassavetes	....	special thanks
Wendy Christiansen	....	special thanks
Katurah Clarke	....	special thanks (as Katurah Clark)
Howard Cohen	....	special thanks
Marsha Costa	....	special thanks
Howard Fabrick	....	special thanks (as Howard Fabrick Esq.)
Ester Friedman	....	special thanks
Thomas Golubic	....	special thanks
Josh Haynie	....	special thanks
Lou Hill	....	special thanks
Pamela James	....	special thanks
Bobby Jones	....	special thanks
Maggi Kelley	....	special thanks: The Lantana Center
Michael Lai	....	special thanks
David Landau	....	special thanks
Linda Lichter	....	special thanks (as Linda Lichter Esq.)
Lawrence Lui	....	special thanks
John Massa	....	special thanks
Gene Meyer	....	special thanks
Kathryn Morrow	....	special thanks
Suzanne Moss	....	special thanks
Peter Nichols	....	special thanks (as Peter Nichols Esq.)
Jodi Peikoff	....	special thanks (as Jodi Peikoff Esq.)
Marisa Porter	....	special thanks
Neil Portnow	....	special thanks
Clar Ryu	....	special thanks
Shawn Simon	....	special thanks (as Shawn Hopkins)
Trish Soodik	....	special thanks
David Steel	....	special thanks
Joanne Steenson	....	special thanks
Jay Sures	....	special thanks
Jessica Swirnoff	....	special thanks
Robert Szymanski	....	special thanks (as Rob Szymanski Esq.)
Diane Upson	....	special thanks
Pat Woods	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Artisan Entertainment
• Mad Chance
• Tin Toy Productions LLC
• Vault, The

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment
• Bac Films (France)
• EuroVideo
• Odeon (Greece)
• Roxie Releasing (2001) (USA)

Other Companies

• Adidas  special thanks
• All Payments Services  payroll services (as All Payments)
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  special thanks (as A.C.L.U.)
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Amnesty International  special thanks
• BCBG  special thanks
• Background Players  extras casting
• C.A.S.T. Security  cast security
• Call Time  cleaning services
• Chaiken & Capone  special thanks
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cobros  special thanks
• Digital Sound and Picture  post-production sound services
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound re-recorded at
• Jhane Barnes  John Ritter's wardrobe furnished by
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  clearances
• L.A. East Studios  orchestra recording
• L.A. Eyeworks  special thanks
• Lightning Dubbs Inc.  video duplication (as Lightning Dubbs)
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting (as Magic Film & Video)
• Octane Post  telecine transfers
• Pascal Catering  catering (as Pascal's Catering)
• Paws for Effect  animals provided by
• Sequoia Illumination  grip and lighting equipment
• Summit Entertainment  foreign sales
• Terrific Teachers  studio teachers
• The Loop Group  adr voice casting
• Tippecanoe Music Studios  music mixing
• Title House  titles and opticals (as Title House Digital)
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance (as Truman Van Dyke)
• Turnbull & Asser  special thanks (as Turnball & Asser)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and elements of violence.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37395)

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Trivia:

Was a feature film for HBO before hitting the big screens.

Quotes:

Sammy: Dad... When can I get a Guitar?
Alex: When you've mastered the harmonica.
Sammy: When can I get an electric guitar?
Alex: When you've got your own house.

Movie Connections:

References Running Scared (1986)

Soundtrack:

Freakin' You

a genuinely chilling thriller

The `banality of evil' has long been a source of fascination for those artists exploring the dark side of human nature. Gloomy houses filled with vengeful spirits or twitching psychos hold less fear for the common man than the sudden discovery that the `people next door,' the PTA member down the street, or the social director for the local church youth group are the true villains who surround us unnoticed, people whose very `normalcy' serves to mask the evil within. For only when the mask is finally ripped off and we at last get to see what we have been living next to all along do we come to realize how very tenuous is our security and safety in this world. What could be scarier than that?

In this category of works, `Panic' emerges as a genuinely chilling, emotionally unsettling psychological thriller, short on gratuitous violence and long on characterization and mood. Writer/director Henry Bromell has fashioned a dark, disturbing tale of a man named Alex (William H. Macy) who seeks the professional help of a therapist played by John Ritter. Alex's problem is a decidedly unique one: it seems that, since he's been a teen, he has served as hit man for his father (Donald Sutherland) whose mysterious, shady `business' apparently calls for the elimination of certain parties at the request of unknown `clients.' Alex is a seemingly good man, devoted to his wife and son, who has somehow found a way to distance himself emotionally and morally from the heinous crimes he commits. Yet, obviously, Alex has arrived at a point of moral reckoning – for how else to explain his sudden need to unburden himself to this total stranger? Macy gives a brilliant performance as Alex, showing, in his totally understated reactions to the people and events around him, what it is like to be buttoned up so tight that even with all the mayhem and filial abuse he's experienced in his life he is able to truthfully say `I don't know if I've ever been angry' – even at his father who got him into this life in the first place.

What makes `Panic' so unsettling is that it violates all our comforting notions about the ties that bind father to son and family members to each other. Rather than setting a fine moral example for their child, both of Alex's parents, Michael (Donald Sutherland) and Deidre (Barbara Bain), have actually groomed him to become a cold-blooded killer. Yet, life seems to go on in surface ease within the confines of not only that family but Alex's own family as well. Alex keeps the truth hidden from both his wife, Martha (Tracy Ullman) and his 6-year old son, Sammy (David Dorfman), allowing them to function almost as any other normal suburban family.

Yet, Alex has other, perhaps more mundane problems as well. He meets a somewhat disturbed 23-year old fellow patient named Sarah (Neve Campbell) to whom he feels an immediate attraction. Tentatively, these two lost souls grope towards each other, both of them hoping to find in the other that which is lacking in themselves. But in many ways, Alex is actually a man of strong moral character in certain aspects of his life and he agonizes over taking the initial step towards consummating their relationship, knowing it will harm the wife he loves but no longer feels attracted to. Bromell's sophisticated screenplay refuses to spell out every psychological detail for the audience, allowing us to make our own connections, draw our own conclusions and reach our own moral judgments. As director as well, Bromell establishes and maintains a mood of almost heartbreaking melancholy and sadness. Characters rarely speak above a hush; the camera glides slowly along taking in the scene at a leisurely, unhurried pace; and the haunting musical score heightens the strange unreality of the world which these people have come to inhabit, a world that seems to call into question everything we take for granted in the area of morality, ethics and basic common decency.

The performances from every member of the cast (right on down to little David Dorfman) are letter perfect. Each of these fine actors knows exactly the right note to hit in every scene, never cutting against the grain of understated seriousness that Bromell has established.

`Panic' is a small, underrated gem that lingers long in one's memory.