Nothing can prepare you for the relentless onslaught of nonsense that is Panique au Village. A feature-length adaptation of the unique Belgian stop-motion series, the ‘plot’ is merely an excuse to animate ever greater flights of oddball fancy. Our heroes are Cowboy and Indian, speaking in hilariously high-pitched French accents, whose mischief is (just about) kept in check by the only sensible character in the film – who just so happens to be a horse. English viewers might recognise its distinct toy-soldier aesthetic from the Cravendale adverts of days of yore; colours are bold and primary, movement is jerky and spasmodic, creating the effect of a toybox brought to life by a hyperactive toddler. Yet there is genius amongst the chaos, be it in small touches like Horse sleeping in a special upright bed, the incorporation of lifesize objects, such as coffee mugs, into the the miniature landscape, or the entire third act, which takes place in a parallel universe accessible via a pond. Compared to most modern movie standards, the film is relatively short; this works to Panique‘s advantage, as there is only so much high-octane madness a viewer can swallow. While it lasts, though, you’ll be treated to an utterly surreal smorgasbord of Gallic eccentricity.
tinyflix 