Panic Beats is a 1983 film starring Paul Naschy and Julia Saly. The film was a Spanish-Japanese co-production made as a sequel to Naschy's 1972 Horror Rises From the Tomb (featuring the return of his "Alaric de Marnac" character from the previous film). It was produced by Augusto Boue and Julia Saly for Naschy's company Aconito Films. Paul Naschy plays the monstrous Alaric de Marnac and Julia Saly, Lola Gaos, and Silvia Miro co-star. Some stock music written by Roberto Nicolosi for 1959's Caltiki the Immortal Monster can be heard in the background.

Plot

Paul Marnac plots to get rid of his wealthy wife Genevieve (who has a weak heart) by frightening her to death. He brings her to stay for a few months at his parents' old mansion in the country, telling her the peace and serenity will improve her heart condition. Meanwhile he is scaring her with legends of his 15th century ancestor, an evil murderous knight named Alaric de Marnac, making her think the monster still inhabits the house. Paul is having an affair with Julie, his young maid, and plans to marry her after his wife is out of the way. Paul even goes so far as to disguise himself as Alaric, wearing a 15th century suit of armor, and succeeds in scaring the poor woman to death. But the joke is on Paul, because after getting Paul to marry her, Julie electrocutes him in the bathtub. Thinking her plan has succeeded, Julie prepares to celebrate her ill-gotten gains, but then realizes that the legends of Alaric were true. The centuries-old monster appears in the house and wreaks a gory vengeance on Julie.