DON'T PANIC (1989)
aka DIMENSIONES OCULTAS
(part of HORROR FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER VOLUME 1)
Directed by Rubén Galindo Jr.
BCI/Deimos DVD
Reviewed 03.07.08
Review by Dan Budnik

THE FILM
Mike, Tony & Alex and Virgil. Mike is our lead guy. He seems grown up but he wears PJ's with some sort of cartoon design on them. Tony is Mike's best friend except he's real rude to Mike and laughs obnoxiously at random times (bi-polar?). He is, legitimately, a character you want to punch in the face. Alex is the new girl who falls for Mike. She's cute as can be. But, the voice she is dubbed with is as annoying as Tony's laugh. Virgil is the almost-wisecracking spirit released when Mike and Tony mess around with an Ouija board. Virgil haunts Mike's mind and kills his friends.

It's confectionary time at Bleeding Skull. This movie bypasses logic, characterizations, structure and everything else that gets in the way of teens partying, teens possessed and teens dying. Yes, there is an alcoholic mom. But, she is so blatantly Alcoholic that it's funny. I'd want to drink with her as we watched Don't Panic. There's a dad who seems to have stepped in from a completely different Mexican movie. He is big and blustery with lots of "It's my job! I have to make my family money!" type trash. (Everyone else seems to be out of a half-conceived/half-remembered American teen slashery movie. Dad seems to have stepped out of a very silly telenovela.) Within a few minutes of meeting one another, Mike and Alex are having a musical montage where they are falling in love. Move it, move it. Why bother with anything but the killing and strangeness if that's all the people came to see?

And, I have to agree with them. This movie cooks along, except for the slightly dull ending where nothing out of the ordinary happens. (However, the closing shot is almost as nutty as the last shot of City Of The Living Dead. Not so much a "What?" as a big "Huh?") Mike and Tony have called Virgil out of wherever he was at a previous Ouija board session but that's only briefly mentioned. There is no "What's going on?" here suspense building up to the bad guy's appearance. They use the board, Virgil is called out and it all goes to hell.

Mike's PJs are a real kick. He spends entire scenes running around in them and I don't know why, apart from the fact that it's quite amusing. He even throws a temper tantrum in his room where he tears stuff apart and knocks things over in slow motion. But, all the slow-mo does is show off the fact that Mike wants to tear his room apart but really doesn't want to ruin his stuff. If you know what I mean.

This film is looped in the best possible way. The dubbing gives it that slight feeling of distance from everything we're seeing that makes it even goofier. And, the fact that everyone is speaking English in this Mexican film makes it that much stranger.

All my talk is keeping you from the movie. And, really, all I'm doing is saying bits that I loved from it. You'd be better off finding them out yourself. So, pour yourself some Mountain Dew ("The White Trash Champagne!"). Mexican food is optional but may be appropriate. Tell your favorite person that they'll enjoy this. Then, sit back, get comfy and enjoy Don't Panic.

AUDIO AND VIDEO
I would imagine this looks better than the VHS did. It looks a bit ragged but sits perfectly in its time period. I didn't see any glitches or problems. The English dub feels like it was recorded in a big stone room but that's not a problem.

EXTRAS
Pick up the "South of the Border Volume 1" set. It's great. Even if you have Cemetery Of Terror and Grave Robbers, do it. The set includes the Mexican version of Don't Panic, which is slightly longer and in Spanish with English subtitles. I didn't watch it. They're speaking English in the film. I didn't see the point.

FINAL THOUGHTS
A film like this puts you in a little cocoon of weird and familiar. I knew I was safe when I heard the theme song. It is called "Don't Panic". First, imagine the most 80s song you can think of, complete with drum machines and synths. Then, don't record it in a state-of-the-art studio. Instead, record it in a garage or closet with a 4-track but a lot of heart. That's what the theme song sounds like. That's what the movie feels like. That's why you should watch it.

The 'Jams


Dimensiones ocultas (and how)


"Your room is fantastic."


I am fantastic.