Panic in Year Zero!

7.5/10. Watched this Friday evening on DVD.

Anyone surprised by how quickly New Orleans descended into chaos and lawlessness last week obviously has not seen this 1962 movie. A major U.S. city is incapacitated by sudden catastrophe. In the absence of law and order, criminals roam unchecked, raping, murdering and pillaging. Otherwise decent people steal weapons and supplies. By the time the army finally shows up, lives and souls have been lost.

Panic is certainly undermined by its modest budget; it could've been something closer to a masterpiece if director/star Ray Milland had had more resources at his disposal. And there are a few coincidences in the script that require some extra suspension of disbelief.

Finally, though, the movie succeeds through the strength of its subject matter and the clear investment of its cast and crew. And it also poses some moral questions that are as interesting and relevant now as I'm sure they were 43 years ago.