The Pit and the Pendulum
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Movie Reviews of The Pit and the Pendulum
Movie Review: Keep It Up MGM
Summary: 5 Stars
I just about fell over backwards when I bought my copy of this DVD. As part of the special features, it includes an audio commentary by Roger Corman! MGM Midnight Movies keep coming out, and my collection keeps growing. When I think of Vincent Price and Roger Corman, this gem is the movie that comes to mind. It is the perfect late-night horror film. If you've seen this movie on VHS, you know what I mean, but you're not getting the whole thing until you get this widescreen DVD.
The quality of the film it perfect. I saw no noticable wear of picture quality. The sound it fantastic. Vincent Price's perfomance as the tortured and soon demented son of a mad Spanish Inquisitioner is perfectly played out. The lonely castle setting is pure gothic. The interiors of castle give the feeling of wondering in a huge and rambling castle. Barbara Steele is pefectly wicked and sexy. The love story between the hero and heroine never really developes, but who cares! We want to see Vincent go mad and take his revenge.
After I watched the film, I watched it again with the audio commentary turned on. It was fun hearing Roger Corman explain some of his movie tricks for giving depth and beauty to one of his low-budget masterpieces. Normally, the MGM Midnight Movie films only include scene access and the theatrical preview as the extras, so this was a fantastic extra for no extra cost!
Keep 'em coming MGM. You put them in the store, I'll put them in my collection!
Movie Review: Pit and the Pendulum
Summary: 5 Stars
Roger Corman succeeds with another excellent Edgar Allen Poe adaptation starring the one and only Vincent Price alongside the captivating Barbara Steele. The classic tale finds a mournful brother on his way back to Spain, where he intends to uncover the truth behind his sister's untimely death. He is met with lies and deceit from her surviving husband, who eventually reveals that she died of pure fright when she discovered the torture chamber lying beneath the castle's dark corridors. Francis soon finds that the hysterical Nicholas Medina was the son of the Inquisition's most notorious torturer, and that he is on the brink of insanity following his wife's demise. Corman's PIT shares much of the same brilliant scripting, superior technical form, and visual storytelling as Mario Bava's WHIP AND THE BODY. The typically modest budget is entirely concealed by its lavish sets, incredible matte paintings, and elaborate costume designs. A combination of shrouded framing and lucid color filters also give the flashbacks a haunting dream-like quality. Price hams it up in the role as only he can, but is just as enjoyable as ever as the mentally distraught Medina. PIT AND THE PENDULUM is sure to please any Gothic Horror fans, and marks one of Roger Corman's finer achievements.
-Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies
Movie Review: Let's Drive Vincent Crazy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price) lives in a huge castle, where he torments himself daily with fear and guilt over the death of his wife Elizabeth (Barbara Steele). Things get worse when Elizabeth's brother (John Kerr) arrives, demanding an explanation about his sister's demise. He is met by Catherine Medina, Nick's sister, and told of the circumstances surrounding Elizabeth's death, as well as some rather unsettling family history. It seems that the Medina patriarch was a notorious inquisitor, a master in the art of torture and pain. As a small boy, Nicholas had watched as his father tortured and killed his mother and uncle for adultery. As if that were't enough, now Nicholas is increasingly convinced that his wife's ghost has returned to haunt him for burying her alive! The family doctor (Anthony Carbone) assures Nicholas that all is well, but cannot stop his speedy trip to crazytown! The actual pit and pendulum are awesome instruments of maniacal murder! Saved for last, they have excellent shock value! Roger Corman had hit his stride with this movie, assuring it's place in horror history. Price is excellent as the mentally deteriorating victim of an evil conspiracy, who turns things around in the end. A definite creeper-keeper...Movie Review: Great Horror Film
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film at the drive-in "back in the day" and it scared me so bad it was one of the most harrowing events of my young life. Watching it last night as a more sophisticated, worldy adult it did not scare me; however, I did enjoy it very much. Vincent Price give an over the top performance as a madman who gleefully tortures his victems. The torture chamber and castle have an errie beauty, and the story builds to a really suspenseful climax. The widescreen presentation is clear and the colors a vidid; the sound quality is excellent; and the price is right. This is one in a series by Midnight Marquee which are releasing lots of great movies that horror buffs of my generation enjoyed. Thanks to whoever is responsible for doing such a great job with this and other DVD's in this series.Movie Review: Loved It When I Was 8, Still Love It At 18
Summary: 5 Stars
This and "The Last Man On Earth" are the best Vincent Price movies I have ever seen. I LOVE this movie
Made in 61' Its the story of Price haunted by his childhood memories, is trying to stay sane after all hes been through. To top it all off his wife fakes her own death to drive him even more insane over the edge to complete insanity. She dosnt know it then but she is the one that should be afraid of him.
I paid so little for this movie and I think it was one of the smartest things that I have ever done with my money. If you like Edgar Allan Poe and if you like the best actor ever Vincent Price I REALLY think that you should pick this movie up. It is so cheap and so good. I am almost sure that you will like this Midnite Movie Masterpiece. Pick it up at amazon.