The Pit and the Pendulum

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Hector I An adaptation of Poe's novella, the film follows little of the story, which takes place just as the Inquisition is torturing Spain in the 16th century. Here, we follow an English gentleman who comes to Spain to find the reasons for the death of his sister, just married to Nicolas Medina (Vincent Price), whose father was a bloody inquisitor who used a torture chamber. Haunted by the atmosphere, she is said to have died of fright. More than a horror film, this is a thriller in which we constantly wonder whether Nicolas is telling us everything. We don't know if he's haunted by what he saw in his youth, or if he's really inhabited by the spirit of his father. We even doubt ourselves, as the fantastic is always suggested, never obvious. A very good film that will influence the Giallo with its interweaving of mystery/fantasy and thriller, just like the paranoid thrillers in the USA in the 70s. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/01/25 Full Review alan g Not Edgar Allen Poe but a completely different plot. Vincent Price is his Over The Top best. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/14/25 Full Review Dave S Arguably the best of Roger Corman’s Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, The Pit and the Pendulum is an atmospheric horror thriller set on the rocky coast of Spain in the 16th century. The story, which understandably takes liberties with Poe’s short story, is of a journey by an Englishman (John Kerr) to a remote Spanish castle to investigate the death of his sister, the wife of the reclusive Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price), who happens to be the son of a ruthless inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition. The film works on the strength of some excellent cobweb-draped sets, a solid score, a script by Richard Matheson that keeps you guessing, some surprisingly assured direction from Corman, and solid performances all around. The hokey flashback sequences feel out of place but, other than that, it is a more than respectable offering from the king of the B movies. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/14/24 Full Review Michael C When you have a movie from American International Pictures, you can count on seeing bright, vivid colors and impressive costume and set designs. The 1961 film adaptation of "The Pit and the Pendulum" is no exception. The movie as a whole is not great, but it does have its good points. Despite being very loosely based on the classic story by Edgar Allen Poe, the movie does have a well written script and a good storyline. The late Roger Corman was a very talented director. He does show his talents with this movie. "The Pit and and the Pendulum" also has its scary moments, the final scene especially. As is always the case, the late Vincent Price is terrific. The supporting cast is very good for the most part as well. They are not great, but play their respective parts well. The late John Kerr does a good job as Francis Barnard. The late Launa Anders is good as well as Catherine Medina. The movie does have its flaws however. There are times where the movie seems to drag and scenes are rather drawn out. That was a distraction for me, but it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the movie. The climax of the film is very well staged. The pendulum was frightening to even look at. "The Pit and the Pendulum" may not be perfect, but is is an entertaining movie that should be seen at least once. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/10/24 Full Review Dallas H Roger Corman and Vincent Price forever! Watching a movie that can be entertaining while still being on a low-production budget is an interesting watch. Although the hidden stone door placed on modern-day hinges is an eye-roll gaff, I still like this movie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review Sabrina F The Pit and the Pendulum is, like many gothic films, a little on the slow side. An Englishman, Francis Barnard, visits his brother-in-law's castle to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his sister. This, like most gothic stories, is a slowburn with Francis trying to get answers about his sister's disappearance, but he can't seem to get straight answers from anyone. To add to his frustration and annoyance, his brother-in-law's castle is experiencing some strange occurrences. What happened to Francis' sister? Is the castle haunted, and, if so, by whom? There are a couple of not-so-great performances in this film, most especially from the lead actor who plays Francis. That said, this is Vincent Price's movie, and he is spectacular. You get Vincent Price at the top of his game, Barbara Steele, and Poe in one film. There is ample gothic atmosphere, a beautiful setting, and the moments where Price and Steele share the screen together make this movie worthwhile. Just don't ask many questions when the twist is revealed. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/07/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Pit and the Pendulum

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