1988 Directed by Rubén Galindo Jr.
On his 17th birthday, a boy named Michael has a surprise party thrown by his friends, where a session with a Ouija board accidentally unleashes a demon named Virgil, who possesses one of them to go on a killing spree. Michael, now plagued by violent nightmares and premonitions, sets out to try and stop the killings.
Jon Michael Bischof Gabriela Hassel Helena Rojo Jorge Luke Juan Ignacio Aranda Eduardo Noriega Roberto Palazuelos Edna Bolkan Raúl Araiza Mindie McCullum Evangelina Elizondo Cecilia Tijerina Mario Iván Martínez Lucho Gatica Humberto Elizondo José Herrera George Belanger Jose Sambrano Lisa Whithey Nelson Velázquez Martin Luis Quintana Leo Rojo Nora Terrero Marcela Figueroa Rosalinda España Alfonso Cervera Colette Payen
Dimensiones ocultas, A Maldição de Ouija, Virgil, la malédiction, El secreto de la ouija, Virgil : La malédiction, Nie panikuj, 魔灵
Germany
Mexico
Germany
Mexico
I mean, how does a grown-up man even find adorable dinosaur pajamas in his size in Mexico City in 1989?
Oh right, the review... Uh... So as much fun as a Mexican Nightmare on Elm Street knock-off might sou-
But for real, there were people involved in that decision. Like, paid professionals - consultants, wardrobe artists, the director - and not one of them found anything wrong with the hero spending half the film running around in dino jammies and sneakers?
C'mon, focus here, Brooker... Oh yeah, so you take a dollar store Alex Winter and a gang of models from a Mexican Supercuts catalog, add a liberal dose of Wes Cra-
But seriously, it's not even like the pajamas…
Some of the strangest things result from foreign movies being tailor made to the idea of what Americans want. This product was clearly intended for us with its hastily made English signage and snow white, blond-hair, blue-eyed lead, but things spiral into a blur of Coke cans, packs of Marlboro, and alcoholic moms, a whirl of family melodrama, puppy love romance, a Ouija board and a vague demon named Virgil; it comes out the other end of the boom tube as a bizarro episode of Saved by the Bell set in the same town as Nightmare on Elm Street. I can't even begin to articulate how strange the interactions between people are in this movie (heightened by extra loud English…
The poster sold me and I knew I was in for some fun... things got even better when I realized this is a Sharp Hand Joe movie.
Well I want to say up front that the most important takeaway from this movie is that somewhere out there in the world there has to be an adult sized pair of dinosaur pajamas like Michael wears for half the movie and it is now my only goal in life to find them and wear them all the time. Edit: apparently Vinegar Syndrome made some while I wasn’t paying attention and now they’re sold out. Fuck my entire life.
Holy shit this was fantastic! Just a veritable hot mess of awesomeness. Mexico’s answer to A Nightmare on Elm Street, but with an evil ouija board that possesses one of a group of friends and makes him look like Freddy and…
A marvelously absurd anti-Ouija board PSA (damn those homicidal spirits), courtesy of Rubén Galindo Jr.
I loved how this takes place in a fictionalized version of Mexico, very Americanized. Every teenage character is played by a twentysomething. It almost feels like some of the actors were directed to behave very childlike; it is so awkward! I really did not expect this to have such impressive prosthetic work and gore fx. Wonderful stuff!
I will definitely be on the look-out now for some sweet dinosaur pyjamas. I quite like these.
Michelle and I had a blast watching Don't Panic.
Don't Panic is the supernatural shenanigan filled sleeper hit of the 80s. And every year since. An obscure gem ripe for rediscovery and worship. This has a wacky nonsensical soul that will blast its way into your heart and mind leaving you wanting more. Your brain will be sore. But your spirit will soar.
A low budget hokey Elm Street wannabe that fails in the most unintentionally perfect way. A unique mind melter that will flutter into your nightmares with its fog machine surrealism and cheapo psychadelic dream sequences. Plus Lofi zombie designs! Got some strong Dead Dudes in the House vibes from them.
And we have to talk about Michael. Michael steals the show with his permed hair and…
Never have I ever seen a single unassuming wardrobe choice elevate a movies enjoyment so dramatically. I almost want to buy the Blu ray so I can hear the story behind those awesome dinosaur pajamas. 🦕🦖
Obviously the dinosaur PJs are galvanic but I feel like that's overlooking production design that imagines Mexico City as a wasteland of Spanglish signage, porno mags, and endless discarded coke cans, and also that the demonic killer guy starts out as a young Erik Estrada and winds up an old Emilio Estevez.
maybe it's the alcohol talking but this had me laughing in the first ten minutes. i already knew there was a high chance of me liking this and i ended up having so much fun. i only wish that i could've had my own dinosaur pajamas to wear while watching it.
Oh wow, how had I not seen this yet? This is prime 80s WTFery overload. Atrociously awesome acting, nonsensical plot, ultra corny 80s score and one of the strangest lead acting performances I've seen in while.
Permed out Michael has moved to Mexico and it doesn't take long for him and his new friends to get into trouble! For his birthday Michael and his friends play a good ol game of Ouija board and all hell breaks loose.
For a low budget film Don't Panic is pretty ambitious. There's lots of surreal imagery and dreamy visuals. They definitely tried to pull of some Nightmare on Elm St vibes and although they fell short it still allowed for some wacky and…
The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob and Darcy - Season 5: Episode 3, Film 1
Every now and again, Joe Bob is vital to understanding what is even happening on screen. And sometimes that means giving a film more credit than I would have otherwise. For instance, I'd have assumed this was just a horrible dubbing. It might be, but director Rubén Galindo Jr. required all of his actors to be bilingual. That does result in some incredibly strange dialogue, even for a film that's already so divorced from any sort of logic.
Michael and his alcoholic mother just recently moved from the Beverly Hills to Mexico City. Just as his friends are all leaving his birthday party, she calls…
