Panic in Year Zero! is a 1962 American science fiction thriller directed by Ray Milland, who also stars in the film. The story follows the Baldwin family as they try to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Los Angeles. The film starts with a normal day for the Baldwins, who are on a fishing trip in the mountains. Suddenly, they hear a massive explosion, and soon realize that it's a nuclear bomb that has destroyed their city.
As chaos and looting ensue, Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland) decides to take his family and head for the hills to avoid the violence in the city. Along with his wife Ann (Jean Hagen) and his two teenage children, Rick (Frankie Avalon) and Karen (Mary Mitchel), he drives to his cabin in the mountains to wait out the nuclear fallout.
Once they arrive at the cabin, Baldwin must work to keep his family safe and secure. He goes to great lengths to protect them, including arming them with guns and ammunition. Baldwin takes on a more aggressive role, and his actions are driven by his desire to keep his family alive and well.
Throughout the film, the family is forced to confront the new realities of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. They must find food and water, deal with dangerous and often murderous neighbors, and try to keep their spirits up in the face of hopelessness and despair. Panic in Year Zero! is a gripping and suspenseful film that explores the human cost of a nuclear attack and the lengths that people will go to in order to survive.