Two horror films by Mexican director Rubén Galindo Jr whose very short directorial career is highlighted by these two gems.  

When you do an online search for “Rubén Galindo” there really isn’t that much information about him out there. But these two films, Cemetery of Terror (1985) and Don’t Panic (1988), are ones that die-hard genre fans really love. Both films were made in Mexico, but both films feature barely known American actor Jon Michael Bisch who was a music composer but was also in two other Mexican-made films Rescate mortal (1990), which he also directed, and another Rubén Galindo Jr. film, Ratas nocturnas (1991). 

In Cemetery of Terror Jon is one of the music composers for the film, playing alongside Mexican actress Edna Bolkan, who has over 125 acting credits that span from Soap Operas to films like Cholas (2008) and Cholas Satánicas (2007), as well as Mexican Soap Opera legend Erika Buenfil. In Don’t Panic, Ruben Galindo cast him as the lead, a teenager named Michael who plays with a Quije board at his birthday party only to unleash evil. Both very different films, one in Spanish one in English but both feature Galindos distinct directing style. 

Both of these horror gems are rarely theatrically screened. 

This double feature is programmed by Raul Benitez, a film programmer in Chicago for over 14 years. Raul currently is the Senior Programmer at the Midwest Film Festival and the After Dark programmer at the Chicago International Film Festival, and also programs at Comfort Station Logan Square, Full Spectrum Features, and the Nightingale Cinema.