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Don't Panic

  • 1987
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Don't Panic (1987)
Slasher HorrorSplatter HorrorSupernatural HorrorHorror

On his seventeenth birthday, Michael unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of a Ouija board.On his seventeenth birthday, Michael unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of a Ouija board.On his seventeenth birthday, Michael unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of a Ouija board.

  • Director
    • Rubén Galindo Jr.
  • Writer
    • Rubén Galindo Jr.
  • Stars
    • Jon Michael Bischof
    • Gabriela Hassel
    • Helena Rojo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.8/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rubén Galindo Jr.
    • Writer
      • Rubén Galindo Jr.
    • Stars
      • Jon Michael Bischof
      • Gabriela Hassel
      • Helena Rojo
    • 26User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:05
    Teaser Trailer

    Photos98

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    + 92
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    Top Cast27

    Edit
    Jon Michael Bischof
    • Michael
    Gabriela Hassel
    • Alexandra
    Helena Rojo
    Helena Rojo
    • Mrs. Smith
    • (as Helen Rojo)
    Jorge Luke
    Jorge Luke
    • Lt. Velazco
    • (as George Luke)
    Juan Ignacio Aranda
    • Tony
    Eduardo Noriega
    Eduardo Noriega
    • Fred
    Roberto Palazuelos
    Roberto Palazuelos
    • John
    Raúl Araiza
    Raúl Araiza
    • Robert
    • (as Raúl Araiza Jr.)
    Edna Bolkan
    Edna Bolkan
    • Teacher
    Evangelina Elizondo
    Evangelina Elizondo
    • Reception Nurse
    Mindie McCullum
    • Cristy
    • (as Melinda McCallum)
    Cecilia Tijerina
    Cecilia Tijerina
    • Debbie
    Mario Iván Martínez
    Mario Iván Martínez
    • Peter
    Luis Gatica
    Luis Gatica
    • Luis
    • (as Lucho Gatica)
    Humberto Elizondo
    Humberto Elizondo
    • T.V. Reporter
    Joe Herrera
    Joe Herrera
    • Jose
    • (as Jose Herrera)
    George Belanger
    • Doctor
    • (as George Velanger)
    José Nájera
    • Priest
    • (as Jose Sambrano)
    • Director
      • Rubén Galindo Jr.
    • Writer
      • Rubén Galindo Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    4.81.7K
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    Featured reviews

    Insomniac_moviefan

    Forget about Virgil!

    The tagline of this movie is : Forget "Forget Freddie and Jason. Virgil's the newest nightmare in town". It sounds like there's a new killer that everyone should be afraid of!. When you see the cover of the movie, you realize that Virgil is a total loser! The movie is not scary, but it's your average slasher. Terrible make up, stupid situations, and a lame killer make this an avoidable film at all costs.

    I admire producers that are ambitious when making a film, but the ones of this were more than ambitious, they thought they could create a scarier and meaner killer than JASON or FREDDY. Sadly, (and predictably) they failed.
    6HumanoidOfFlesh

    Pretty silly.

    Young Michael didn't know that by messing with an ouija board he would unleash a demon that would posses his soul and force him into the wave of terror,delivering his victims into brutal death.To prevent more bloodshed Michael must find the demon's dagger and destroy the horrendous being.Ruben Galindo's "Don't Panic" is a pretty amusing piece of Mexican horror.It offers plenty of cheese and gore.The gore effects made by Screaming Mad George are quite effective and the film has some suspenseful moments.So if you're a fan of low-budget slasher films you can't go wrong with "Don't Panic".Here is my favourite gore scene from this film:a guy has his throat slashed with a dagger.6 out of 10.
    3Coventry

    No panic....only chuckles!

    Ruben Galindo is one of those sneaky Mexican exploitation directors who makes quickie-movies for the the American market. The cast is filled with fresh American faces and premise as well as atmosphere are typically US high school-like. Only... the production is entirely Mexican! This technique saves the makers a few extra bucks and the fans of this type of cinema mostly don't notice the difference anyway. However, what you can't but notice about "Don't Panic" is the amateurism. The screenplay makes no sense at all as it attempts to blend the mysteries of the occult (an Ouija-board) with an ordinary high school slasher plot. A group of brainless friends summon a demon (named Virgil...not exactly a petrifying name, if you ask me) and this demon soon after possesses one of the kids. How did this Virgil ended up inside the body of the kid?? Who knows... Why does he think it's necessary to butcher everyone who joined the Ouija game?? Not explained, neither... There's no tension and no sense of humor to detect anywhere in the script. Well...at least not intended humor, because the stupidity and incompetence definitely will make you chuckle more than once! Also, if you plan to watch this film, you're better not allergic to atrocious acting. No matter how hard these teen-actors try, they have no acting skills at all. The best part about "Don't Panic" is – as usual – the gore! Screaming Mad George went nuts again and literally stuffed this film with repulsive massacre and entire buckets of blood. I'm not an expert but I sincerely doubt that an average human body contains so much blood. Oh well, if it wasn't for these gory moments, "Don't Panic" would be completely worthless. In conclusion: this probably is one of the only films ever that feature the hero (supposedly 17 years old) battling evil whilst wearing a ridiculous and utterly childish pajamas. Respect!
    4Tikkin

    Not bad, a bit cheesy though

    I thought this supernatural slasher wasn't too bad. There were a few effective bits, and even a few suspenseful moments. The killings with the dagger are cool, and the bit where Michael is being stalked around the hospital are good. I also got a scare from the part where Virgil suddenly appears at the back window of the car. There are too many boring parts however to make this a good slasher film. If they had used more shots of Virgil stalking Michael and added some more gore, it would have been quite good. The ending is rather cheesy.

    Still it's better than many slasher films I have seen so if you're a die-hard slasher fan then seek this one out.
    PIN1988SP

    NOT SO BAD

    I thought it was a low-budget horror flick. Well,I was wrong because it`s a no-budget kind of film. Anyway,let`s just say it`s not as bad as it seems. SCREAMING MAD GEORGE(make-up wizard of "SOCIETY","BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR",among others)did the visual effects here. The story(which was told in a better way in "LONG TIME DEAD")centers around a bunch of teens playing with this ouija board. Through this they invite a supernatural killer known as virgil. Director RUBEN GALINDO tries hard to shock audiences but it doesn`t go beyond what we`ve seen already before.

    DEDICATED TO HORROR GEEKS ONLY(i`m proudly one of them).

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    Related interests

    Roger Jackson in Scream (1996)
    Slasher Horror
    Shawnee Smith in Saw (2004)
    Splatter Horror
    Daveigh Chase in The Ring (2002)
    Supernatural Horror
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the scene in which Michael and John are at the apartment waiting for possessed Tony to arrive "Cementerio Del Terror" is playing on the television. A film also directed by Ruben Galindo Jr.
    • Goofs
      In the end credits waiter is misspelled as "Weiter"
    • Connections
      Featured in Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks: Don't Panic (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Panic
      Composed and performed by Jon Michael Bischof

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 1989 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • Mexico
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El secreto de la ouija
    • Filming locations
      • Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Dynamic Films
      • Producciones Galubi S.A. de C.V.
      • Producciones Torrente S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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