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.

---

Plot Keywords:

family business | love | marriage | flashback | utah teapot | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and elements of violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2001 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

Pánico

Filming Locations:

Huntington Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was initially meant to be a TV film for HBO before hitting the big screens.

---

Quotes

Alex: You shouldn't have done that with Sammy, dad.
Michael: What are you talking about?
Alex: Making him feel bad like that, about spilling the glue.
Michael: [Dismissively] The kid's a retard.
Alex: He's very smart.
Michael: Right.
Alex: He is!
Michael: Okay. I'm sorry. I get aggravated. Tell Martha I'm sorry. Is she pissed at me?
Alex: Yes.
Michael: Did she make you come talk to me? Are you the messenger boy?
[...]

---

Connections

References Running Scared (1986)

---

Soundtracks

HSML Bossa Nova Source #1
Written by Michel Rubini
Published by HSML Publishing and Fribble Music

User Reviews

Brilliant

A brilliant movie about family, guilt, sacrifice, betrayal, and love. Macy is such a great actor. It was almost a shame to see him in the same scenes with Campbell, who looks the part of a neurotic sex object but doesn't have the chops to work with him on the level the script called for. But he's such a good actor that he played down to her level to make the scenes work. I highly applaud the casting of Tracey Ullman as the neglected wife. Who knew? Sutherland is also very good. The way he moves makes his character look taller (and even younger in some scenes). Almost everyone knew what they were doing.

Macy's portrayal of the only situation in which his character is not able to be careful is nothing short of complete mastery.