Panic (2000)

Alex, a hit man, tries to get out of the family business, but his father won't let him do so. While seeking the help of a therapist, he meets a sexually charged 23-year-old woman with whom he falls in love.

Director:

Henry Bromell

Writer:

Henry Bromell

Stars:

William H. Macy, Neve Campbell, John Ritter

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)
Steven Moreno	...	Sean (as Steve Moreno)
Erica Ortega	...	Rachel
Greg Pitts	...	Alex - Age 20

Storyline

Alex, a sad-eyed mournful man, goes into psychotherapy: he discloses he's a hit man. He also tells the doctor, after a few sessions, that he's attracted to a young woman he's met in the waiting room. She's Sarah, 23, quick, edgy, and perhaps attracted to him as well. But he's married, the dutiful father of a young precocious boy, so Sarah brushes him off. In flashbacks we see him get his start as a killer, at his father's prompting: it's the family business. Dad gives Alex his next assignment: to kill the therapist. Alex keeps returning to Sarah, calling her, stopping by her apartment, as he decides what to do about the hit, his father, his marriage, and his malaise.

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Plot Keywords:

taking off shirt | taking off a shirt | young woman | young girl | young | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and elements of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

William H. Macy and Neve Campbell co-starred together again 15 years later in the movie Walter (2015).

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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.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Me, Myself and Irene/The Patriot/Chicken Run/The Discreet Charge of the Bourgeoisie (2000)

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Soundtracks

Clouded
Written by Brian Tyler
Published by Tippecanoe Music Publishing

User Reviews

Nifty little sleeper of a movie.

This is the kind of movie Hollywood needs to make more of. No extravagant props, no car chases, no clever one-liners. Just people dealing with being people.

William Macy plays an unlikely hitman who works for his father, Donald Sutherland. Macy is the dutiful son, Sutherland is the domineering father. Son wants out of the business, father won't let him. Macy loves his own son, played beautifully by David Dorfman ("The Ring"). He also starts to fall in love with Neve Campbell, a girl he meets in the waiting room of his psychiatrist's office.

It's an interesting juxtaposition of characters and the film follows the reluctant killer as he balances his own needs with those of his family. There are many touching scenes, especially between Macy and his little boy. And as you'd expect in a film with William Macy in it, there's a bit of humor too.

Excellent job all around, actors and director. Nice to know they can still make a good film in Hollywood on a small budget.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2001 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

Panic

Filming Locations:

Huntington Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,006, 3 December 2000

Gross USA:

$779,137

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$779,137

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artisan Entertainment, Mad Chance, The Vault

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1