Panic in Year Zero!- An economical brilliant works

As a lot of review has stated, "Panic in Year Zero" was produced under a B-rated movie budget. Yet, in my opinion, Ray Milland has achieved a good work.

The limited investment was quite obvious through a number of scenes in the story. For example, the mushroom cloud of nuclear explosion appears so faintly compared to the one in other atomic bomb films. Or the scene of over speed cars driven on main road to escape from nuclear attacks looks disconnected as being unprofessionally jointed from another film.

However, low budget drove Milland's concentration towards the depth in movie content. Rather than investing in costly modern nuclear annihilation weapons, or material extensive destruction, the film dug in the social degeneration and psychological pattern surrounding just one term: Survivalism. First, we obviously see a social breakdown during the nuclear chaos: rising service prices (restaurants, gas stations) for benefits, find every way to escape from the attack uncaring about other people (car drivers ride at a racing speed), social crimes (the 3 thugs tried to rob Harry, then killed Marilyn's parents and imprisoned her, and then abused Karen) etc. These problems, without pricey casting and techniques, were portrayed simply yet wisely in the story.
Second, the film also presents a profound discovery in personal psychology in such a tragedy: the contradiction between survivalism and humanity. Harry, a middle-aged gentleman turned to a selfish realistic man who resorted to every means including violence and gun threatening to maintain himself and his family's survival. Nevertheless, the film did not end up in such negativity and pessimistic consequences. Like most of American films, main characters received a happy ending. Harry, who turned out to have been struggling inside against all his own decisions, with the encouragement of Ann- his wife, finally managed to keep his family survive and peace was going to be declared.

In conclusion, the film is another evidence for the talent of Ray Milland. With just a low budget, he still produced a terrific works that remains deep impressions in audiences of every generation. He made us- audiences- not just see and enjoy the movie but also think and wonder about life.