IMDb 5.3 1989 HD

Shadow Panic

Shadow Panic

1989
Drama
26 min NR USA
5.3 IMDB

Three women appear connected in this short experimental drama about internal and external states of emergency, about personal and collective shadows, about resistance and spirit.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Margot Nash
Starring
Kaarin Fairfax / Robin Laurie / Rose Wanganeen

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

thought-provoking atmospheric intense introspective challenging symbolic powerful abstract resilient compelling nuanced

Reviews

C
Clara Peterson
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 1989 short 'Shadow Panic' presents a thought-provoking, albeit somewhat abstract, portrait of three women navigating difficult circumstances. The film’s exploration of internal and external states of emergency, and the metaphor of personal and collective shadows, is ambitious.…

J
Jonathan Bell
May 19, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'Shadow Panic' is a remarkably effective short film that punches well above its weight. The interplay between Kaarin Fairfax, Robin Laurie, and Rose Wanganeen is captivating, as they embody the film's rich thematic tapestry of internal and external…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

As a short experimental drama, 'Shadow Panic' from 1989 offers a concentrated dose of thematic inquiry. The film’s focus on three women grappling with internal and external crises is compelling, though its elliptical storytelling can feel somewhat distant.…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 19, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Shadow Panic' is a potent, if compact, artistic statement. The film’s strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of shared anxiety and inner turmoil through its focus on three women. The performances by Fairfax, Laurie, and…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 19, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This brief experimental piece from 1989, 'Shadow Panic,' is a fascinating, if at times opaque, exploration of the female psyche under duress. Kaarin Fairfax, Robin Laurie, and Rose Wanganeen deliver committed performances, embodying the film's central conceit of…

FAQs

In 'Shadow Panic,' the concept of 'shadows' is employed metaphorically on multiple levels. It represents the internal, often unacknowledged, psychological states and anxieties that individuals grapple with. Simultaneously, it signifies the broader, collective fears and societal pressures that can impact a community. The film uses this duality to explore how personal struggles and external crises are intrinsically linked, shaping the characters' experiences and their capacity for resistance.