PANICBEATSbeginswithatotallynudewomanwithweltsonherbody,runningthroughamistyforestfullofdecayedskeletons.Aknightonhorsebackischasingher,andwesoonlearnthatheisAlaricdeMarnac(awickedcharacterNaschyfirstcreatedforHORRORRISESFROMTHETOMB),viciouslykillingherforherunfaithfulways.Afterthecreditsrole,wearetakentothepresentwhereadescendentofMarnacnamedPaul(Naschy)ismarriedtothewealthyGeneviève(JuliaSaly)washassomeseriousheartproblems.Pauldecidestotakehertohisancestralhomeinthecountryforsomepeaceandquiet,butthesuperstitious-filledsettingopensaPandora’sBoxofterribleoccurrences. WesoondiscoverthatPaulisarealson-of-a-bitchwhoplanstoscarehiswifetodeath,planningtocontrolherfortuneandcontinuehissecretaffairwithseductivebadgirlMireille(SilviaMiró),whohappenstobethenieceofthetarotcard-readinghousekeeper,Mabile(LolaGaos).Paul’smalevolentschemeworks,buthestillhastoworryaboutanadditionalmoney-hungrymistress(thisguyreallygetsarouneee!),theunforgivingMabile,aswellasnewfianceéMireillewhomightbehidingathingortwoherself.Moregrislymurdersfollow,andtheghostofMarnacreturnsfromhelltopunishthemostdespicablehumancharacterinthefilm. PANICBEATSwasalsowrittenbyNaschy(underhisrealnameJacintoMolina)whoinjectsthefilmwithanold-fashionedspookyhousemotif,beefedupwithamodernmoviesenseofviolenceandsexuality.Thefilmoffersnothingtooinnovativestorywise,andevenNaschyadmitsonthedisc’sextrasthatitwaspartlyinspiredbyGASLIGHTandREBECCA,butheseemstojusttossinahodgepodgeofexploitationandhorroringredients,whiledeliveringastylishandenjoyableeffortwithanumberoftwistsandsomegenuinelychillingmoments.Thecamerashotsandlightingarebotheffective,andthere'sevendoesacoolset-up(muchlikewhatFreddieFrancisdidinTHESKULLandTHECREEPINGFLESH)whereweseethepointofviewofMarnacthroughhisdarkhelmetashestalkshisfemaleprey.Graphically,weareexposedtoeverythingfromaplateofbloodyeyeballs,tovictimsbeingbeatenrelentlesslywiththevariousMedievalweaponsaffixedonthehouse’swalls(forexample,someoneisaxedinthestomach,followedbythesoakedentrailsoozingout!).Naschy’smostfrequent1980sleadinglady,JuliaSaly,isnotgivenmuchtodo,butwithheroffbeatlooks,isanicepresencenonetheless.TheprominentfemalestarhereisSilviaMirówhoisseeninthebufffrequently,andshecertainlymakesforsomewell-appreciatedEurostarleteyecandy.Naschyhimselfisverygoodinthefilm,puttingonconnivingfacades,carryinganumberofwomenonastring,
