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Cinema of Apocalypse: Panic in Year Zero
A film that will shatter your beliefs about human nature and societal norms, while simultaneously reinforcing gender and familial roles.
Starring: Ray Milland
Running Time: 93 minutes
Release Date: July 5, 1962
The Baldwin family set out of Los Angeles, California for a fishing trip one sunny day. They are a seemingly normal family: Man and wife Harry and Ann Baldwin with their two children Rick and Karen. Only after a little while’s drive, the family sees a great explosion behind them, what they would later find out is the beginning of a third world war. Immediately, Harry predicts the mayhem and lawlessness of his family’s impending future and breaks many laws for their preservation. This includes robbing a hardware store and gas station within the first couple hours of the nuclear blast. But they’re not the only ones operating on “survival of the fittest” mode. People are scrambling to leave the city, driven only be fear.
And of course there are others who seek to take advantage of all the madness… Three hooligans Carl, Mickey and Andy rape and pillage their way about town only making matters worse for the Baldwin family. Of course, Harry Baldwin guessed that would happen too, and he tells his wife and daughter to hide in the trailer attached to the back of the car. They don’t seem to understand why until the hoodlums show up. How will the Baldwin family ever have a normal life again?
An extremely brave, realistic, and tense movie, Panic in Year Zero! triumphs in its portrayal of human nature and the complete breakdown of societal norms. The movie’s faults lie in its women characters. With her world crumbling before her very eyes, Ann Baldwin insists that people are still inherently rational, although she is repeatedly proven wrong. Even with the threat of rape constantly looming, Ann Baldwin remains in denial insisting that Harry not harm “those boys.” This is, of course, until her daughter wanders too far away from camp and encounters the infamous cackling hooligans.
An excellent movie that has yet to receive the credit it deserves.
13 Comments
Good review.
Well done review.Ray Milland is one of my old favorites.
A cool article about a film that is often forgotten or overlooked!
Great review; looks like a great movie
great review, never heard of it before but will definately lookout for it now
It looks like a suspensefull movie. Nice review, thanks.
Good point. Oustanding. It reminds me of the biblical tale of Lot and his two daughters, at the time Sodoma and Gomorrah was destroyed by fire. Take care.
Bal, that’s a great comparison–I think there’s a definite connection there. Especially since the husband/father urges that they are unable to go back to the life they once had.
Great review Ursala. I’ll have to look into this one
Tempted to go hire a copy now….
Tempted to go hire a copy now….
I’m tempted to go hire it now….
Good job Ursula. You pick very interesting movies to review.