Classic Paul Naschy films are sort of an addiction for me. When another one finds its way into my mailbox, it also tends to find its way my Blu-ray player almost immediately. This month Mondo Macabro have unleashed the sadistic and brilliant Naschy film Panic Beats an upgrade for their previous and over a decade old DVD release of the film.

The film sees Paul Naschy playing Paul, a man dissatisfied in all aspects of his marriage, expect one, his wife’s vast fortune. As such he would rather end his wife’s life, keep her money, and live his own happily ever after. To this end, he takes her to his old family estate in the country to help her de-stress, as she has a “heart condition”. This estate was once home to Alaric de Marnac (the medieval villain from Horror Rises from the Tomb), who it is speculated returns from the grave every 100 years to wreak vengeance on anyone who causes issues for the de Marnac family.

Into this situation comes Paul’s lifelong housekeeper, Mabile. The country maid who has eyes on Paul, Julie, and Paul’s mistress, Mirelle. The story becomes a series of killings and betrayals that make this seem anything but supernatural, and more in line with something like the Vincent Price starring House on Haunted Hill . Of course, things aren’t always what they first appear.

Panic Beats though comes kind of at the tail end of the classic Naschy period, and right around the period where Eurosplatter was becoming a thing. The convergence of these 2 things seem to come together to create an epic bit of a nasty Naschy-gore film here. The film from the beginning can get the viewer involved with its relationship heavy plot. Of course, its pretty easy to predict where things “might” go, but watching it all play it, is so much fun. The great thing is the fun doesn’t end until the credits roll.

Mondo Macabro does their usual fantastic work bringing Panic Beats to Blu-ray life. The film is presented 1080p with a 1:78:1 transfer, colors are stable, detail is fine, and aside from minor noticeable compression issues, everything is aces here. Audio is presented with LPCM 2.0 in Spanish, it comes through crisp and clear without issue. Extras include another brilliant commentary from the Nachy-casters themselves Troy Guinn and Rodney Barnett. They go really deep in the film contextualizing it into the era which it was made in comparison to Horror Rises… There are also 2 interviews with Naschy himself. HIGHLY RECOMMNEDED.