The Pit and the Pendulum (2009) User Reviews

New Release: The Pit and the Pendulum (2010)

[horrormoviejournal · 2/10 · 17 March 2010]

I learned something from watching "The Pit and the Pendulum". I learned that failing to research movies properly can lead to you wasting the coveted top spot on your Netflix queue. Hey, I could have rented "The Princess and the Frog"...but no, I rented this straight-to-disc "horror" movie that is not really a horror movie at all. You see, I first read Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale of terror when I was in high school; I fell in love with it and its chilling descriptions of torture. So, fast-forward a few years when I notice that a cinematic updating of that story is about to be released on DVD. Having never heard of the filmmakers, the studio, or the cast, I simply assumed that it would be just another horror movie about some person being tortured. I didn't read the plot synopsis nor did I read the reviews by Fangoria or Dread Central, though I did notice their presence. So, imagine my surprise when I pop the DVD in and begin to watch a movie about a handful of scantily-clad metrosexuals asking a notorious hypnotist, JB Divay (Lorielle New), to help them improve their performances in their respective sports. Hmm, I thought, that isn't the Poe story I remember from high school, not even close. Oh, but it gets even weirder and more out-there when the movie becomes...well, strangely homoerotic.

Please Read The Full Review On My Blog: www.horrormoviejournal.blogspot.com

Terrible adaption of a classic story

[sandersofthec · 2/10 · 15 February 2011]

If you have seen the original movie version of this and expected much of the same then you shall be sorely disappointed.

The cast are, in a word, shocking. Wooden acting, poor dialogue, there is nothing endearing about them. You almost want bad things to happen to them just so you don't have to see them anymore.

The whole film seems to exude a sense of TV melodrama. That is, the lighting and sound seem better placed for a daytime TV movie: Cheap.

I sense the directors seem know this and to counteract it have introduced, rather bizarrely, an almost softcore porn edge. Nudity, homosexual encounters ll give the movie a very surreal edge.

It would be a disgrace to even relate this to Poes' work. Terrible film.

An slap in the face of Poe!

[paul_haakonsen · 2/10 · 18 May 2010]

Alright, well I will start out with the bad things about this movie. First, it is hardly more than a sleazefest. There is way too much unnecessary nudity and homosexuality. Don't get me wrong, I got nothing against gays and lesbians, but the excessive images of guys kissing guys and girls kissing girls, is just too much in this movie! It totally brings the movie down to a sleazy level. It is just one notch over a softcore porn movie! The good things in the movie would definitely be the music. The score for this movie is quite nice, and works well throughout the entire movie. Also, the set and scenery is quite nice, especially the constant ticking of clocks throughout the movie.

As for the cast, well that was adequate as well, and most of them actually performed alright, although the dialogue was not always the best kind of dialogue for such a movie.

Now, I think this movie should not have any association with Edgar Allan Poe's classic work of horror. I am sure that he is turning over as this movie is being played. There is little part of this movie that bears any resemblance to Poe's work.

As for a horror movie, this is not scary at all. There are no thrills or scares in the movie. So I am not recommending this particularly, unless you got an hour and a half that you just have to kill with nothing better to do. Sure there are worse movies out there, but "The Pit and the Pendulum" falls to the ground in several areas.

Sure, the aspect of psychological terror and thrills shine through the movie, but they are hardly keeping the movie afloat. I was sorely disappointed with this movie. But now I have seen it, and can honestly say that this is a movie that I will not put into my DVD player again.

The pits...

[bushtony · 1/10 · 13 March 2010]

Firstly, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Edgar Allan Poe or even the fabulously lurid and artistically hip Roger Corman flick from the early sixties.

Secondly, those expecting soft-core porn will be singularly disappointed. It's horribly coy and non-explicit and utterly redundant in it's puerile representations of homo-eroticism, lesbianism and sexual sado-masochism. Imagine those elements transplanted into an episode of the original Scooby Doo cartoon series and that just about illustrates the mentality.

Thirdly, if imagining a half-decent psychological-thriller, it fails on all counts. Nil psychology, zero thrills, null tension, zip suspense and nada logic.

If, however, you are on the lookout for something that is a dull, boring, atrociously acted, abysmally scripted piece of pointless junk, with no gore, no wit, no fun, no dynamic and lots of superimposed visual images of clocks and audio ticking, chiming and heartbeats on the soundtrack that will absolutely decimate your will to live, then this is the ideal ticket.

For a film to not even manage to tap the very outer reaches of the concept of exploitation cinema in order to generate the merest iota of entertainment value is some remarkable feat. And this film achieves that dubious honour. There is nothing to redeem it. Avoid.

Poe would be spinning in his grave!

[SomeLittleNobody · 1 April 2010]

Just awful... not even good in a bad way. Fails on all counts, and why it's even _called_ "The Pit & the Pendulum" is complete mystery to me. Full of stupid dialog that doesn't even make sense, amateurish acting, lots of shots of a cardboard pendulum swinging back and forth for no reason, and laughable attempts at soft-core porn, apparently directed by a 12-year-old. The worst crime this movie commits, however... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS!!

I pity the person who had the job of editing this tripe together, and whoever wrote it ought to be embarrassed beyond words.

Anyone who rated this more than 1 star should seek immediate help, and I suspect those who rated it 1 only did so because there's no zero.

Ooff! Someone! Make it stop!

[icelandknight · 1/10 · 16 March 2010]

What a TERRIBLE movie! I totally agree with the 2 others who gave it a 1 on here. Firstly, when everyone gets out of the car, at the very start, they are then INTRODUCED??? What were they doing in the car on the way there!?! They said there wasn't a house for MILES, so they must have been in the car a while! Then one of them drags out the advert they are all answering... and READS IT OUT LOUD! WTF??? They are all there BECAUSE of the same advert, THEY don't need it read out to them! Wouldn't they already KNOW THIS? Is it just for the audience? So blatant! Jeez! Couldn't they have established this in the car on the way there? Who WROTE this crap! At this point the 3 people watching this with me decided to LEAVE! This movie is FULL of CRINGE inducing crap. - The actors all looked like they just came out of a salon, and selected on looks, none of them look like average students, but rather male models, or such, although the main lady's cheek implants are almost popping out of her face! This movie reminds one of a sinking ship from the start, but it just won't go down! Ugh. - Slight superficial sexual episode, then senseless cutting to a scene with no relevance to the ongoing scene! It's a mess! I would give this movie a miss. - I think I won't even hold out much longer. That's it. Thanks, but no thanks.

I can't believe it's not garbage... Oh! wait... It is...

[radam186 · 1/10 · 3 March 2010]

This is one of the worst "things" I've seen for ages. I call it a "thing" because it is not a film or movie, but unfortunately it does exist so it gets credit for existing.

I loved reading Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum, and hated torturing my poor eyes on this monstrosity. It has nothing to do with Poe's story. It doesn't even seem like they read the cliff notes before mashing there ill informed hands down on the keyboard. I wouldn't have much issue with it if it was titled something like The Spooky Homo-erotic Mansion Mystery or David Decoteau's Middle School Video Class Project, in the later case I'd give little David a grade of C for getting it done, but points must be taken off for being ever so boring and poorly acted, directed, written, shot, edited, scored and any other aspect you could think of.

This "thing" even falls short of late night soft core porn. It's not the funny kind of bad, it just is bad. If you like naked dudes touching and stuff... you might get it, but probably not. This is a movie made for nobody except for the people in it to try to please their parents by showing them art school wasn't a waste of money. It was... Failed

Don't watch it, burn it! Helen Keller would cover her eyes and ears if subjected to this horrid "thing". Booo! Boooooooooo!

What a disappointing sad exercise in truly bad &boring "wanna be Exploitation"!

[Icons76 · 1/10 · 14 February 2012]

Oh my! I'd like to know: Who finances these terrible movies? Who Does? When there's plenty of great directors and writers,out there, that even on the 'so called' Exploitation genre(if this is even an attempt to make an Exploitation film,since I'm not sure anymore!) could pull off some -at least- more stylistic, more erotic,more fun "guilty pleasure" type of pictures! And,who does not love to watch a real 'guilty pleasure' movie,once in a while,or even more than once a week?? But... This is just a waste! An offensive way of spending money to create virtually just, non Cinema, to damage Genre flicks' reputation, and ultimately to undress a bit morbidly, a few young actors, with broken dreams, and little talent, who try very hard not to feel sick in front of the camera. Why making such movies? And I'm a fun of cult stuff, of Horror,even of well done(and real) erotica,like certain great classic euro films from the 1960's/1970's! But this is just a misfire with no direction,and a true insult to whomever tries hard to make it in the industry. Don't ever think about renting it,even if you were a voyeur, these days,believe me, there's some excellent porn for any taste, which i give more credit for,than this ineptitude, for at least, being blunt, and deliver the thrills of what some people may enjoy watching,thinking to find it maybe more 'tastelessly produced and presented' in such productions. But,again,there's nothing here, just plain nothing. A true realm of Boredom! Maybe try to discover,instead, some new artsy erotic horror,because there's really a lot better in the Indy scene today, but not from Rapid Hearts or Regent,apparently,since,after checking their other titles,this project,which even does have the guts to say "inspired by the subliminal Edgar Allan Poe's novel", appears to be one of the better Titles available, according to other reviewers! Oh,well.. if this non movie, is what they have best to offer, maybe they should consider approaching a different business,quickly. Or, fire immediately who is in charge of making this type of choices over plots, and most of all,over directors/writers! Why would you keep giving a decent low budget to such abominable filmmaking? It is criminal. What a disappointment! What a cold,sad perception of cultural decadence,and lack of any sense or sensibility, you'd get by watching this one: Despair, that's actually, maybe,the best definition, to nail, exactly,how i felt while watching this,and even until its end,since i just wanted to be fair,and write what i was feeling with a clear mind,about these movies,that get made surprisingly so often,too often, and always, more and more awfully descending to a place of degradation. Please, Stop! And,people at Here or Logo Cable TV(showing often similar stuff): Please try to encourage movies, that do not make people feel ashamed of being gay, or of watching genre movies with a gay theme! The moral disservice and damage,done to their community, is huge, by showing, or even just endorsing such products! Sorry, i truly don't enjoy writing so badly about a film, I'd just like to see if they'd give a chance to much better stuff out there,so present at Festivals, or other events, that,sadly, does not even barely seen, by wider audiences.

Worst film ever!!!

[rcontino-54967 · 1/10 · 28 May 2020]

This was a train wreck. I don't know what the producer got for this film but he should have gotten 10-15 years for putting Poe's name on it. Filled with never-will-be actors. Terrible plot. My advice to the director: bury this one somewhere in New Jersey, get drunk and forget you ever read Poe.

Almost a waste of time.

[gkenm · 1/10 · 20 June 2022]

The only thing good about this movie was the hot buff guys in their underwear. Unfortunately. I wanted to see how it ended. Otherwise, I would have stopped watching it.

The Pit & The Pablum

[Dweezilaz · 3/10 · 10 June 2020]

Where to begin.... There's a terrible meandering script with horrible dialogue. No tension, no atmosphere, zero attempt at mood. Too brightly lit. Certainly not for a sinister, foreboding theme like this. It's more appropriate for a college sex comedy. Rather than a spooky abandoned insane asylum there's this well kept mansion where all the action occurs. It must be somewhere in the Land of the Midnight Sun because when people are talking about turning in after a long day the sun is still high in the sky. No attempt is made to create a sense of time passing yet there are clocks everywhere. The cast is adequate. You'll recognize Tom Sandoval from Vanderpump Rules. They manage to adequately deliver the outrageous and pooorly written lines with some sense of credibility. But there is none of the enthusiasm and gusto that used to be found in the old drive style movies American International in the '60s. Actors had some enthusiasm and turned the most outrageous dialogue into believable conversation using energy and total sincerety. An exception is Amy Paffrath who seems genuine, delivers a characterization that's somewhat alive and bright. Then one gets to the lead, Lorielle New. I tuned this in because she is so .... spooky. Like a drag version of Marie Windsor, she is the most sinister and scary aspect of the movie and it's not in the script or writing but in those awful cheek and lip implants which seem to get in the way of delivering her lines. And in one blue lit scene where the two students are wrestling her face looks as unnerving as that of Faye Dunaway in the coat hanger scene in Mommie Dearest. Other times she looks like those blue mid century prints of Asian women that decked the walls of the room children were never allowed to enter. Sorry. It doesn't look good. It's a distraction and that orange hair with the Moe Howard bangs is not an asset. So get the hook for the make up artist and hairdresser. Go back to work at that strip mall salon in Barstow where you belong. Additionally, even with her long list of credits, Ms. New has no gift for working with props. Not pocket watches, table utensils, shawls, whips. Everything is just a dead weight in her hands rather than an opportunity to explore how the character would handle those things. For New, they just get in the way for the next costume change. What someone else could have done sitting in that chair with her boobies hanging out and that whip watching two hot guys wrestle. Tragic lost acting opp. Sad that one would go to such lengths to mutilate one's face to appease the gods of Youth and Hollywood. It says something a lot greater about Tinsel Town than it does Edgar Allen Poe and The Pit and the Pablu.. The irony is New is a genuine Hollywood original, I'll give her that. Like Angelyne, Edy Williams and the Black Dahlia all rolled into one. I cannot help but be fascinated by her. Maybe that's the point. This is an awful film, but the people were good looking and the soundtrack would not have been out of place in an A or B picture. It was the most professional and effective part of the movie. Mind Numbing Twaddle. My 3 stars is generous because of the soundtrack, New [she's a mess] and some effort expended. Anyone can throw 100 or so million at producing a movie. It takes some bit of skill to do it for a tiny fraction of that amount.

Can it be?

[barmiz · 7/10 · 27 December 2009]

A David Decoteau movie that's actually quite good? I wouldn't rate it as high as it is on here, I'd give it a 6, maybe a six and a half, but because this is a real improvement on David's last few movies I'll be generous and give a 7. But really, it's a six.

Anyhoo - all the usual Decoteau elements are here: buff guys, one location (same one that was used in his House of Usher and Alien Presence - he must shoot them back to back), non-existent budget, blue hues etc. Big difference though are two things: good story and a much better cast.

The story is straight out of Amicus. A screw-loose hypnotist invites a bunch of extreme sports enthusiasts (including a storm chaser - wtf?) to a mansion where she bumps them off one by one. She tries to hypnotize them to break the pain barrier, because apparently she feels no pain and wants to create someone just like her, because she's lonely and obviously mad. Gender isn't important - she tries it on with the chicks too. The movie is full of references to anything to do with time (pendulum, hypnosis, got that?) and pain (she has a thing for cactuses) There's also a ton of really wacko dialog: "The plural of cactus is cacti!" she growls at the deep sea diving lesbian (yes you read that right) and pretty much everything that comes out of the cute blond storm chaser guy's mouth is a hoot ("a tower of wind connecting the earth and the sky!"). The lines these characters come up with are really something else.

The kills are standard Decoteau - nothing bloody, but there is a modicum of suspense, mostly because some of these characters you actually want to survive, especially the lesbians. They get the best lines. Did I forget to mention that most of the characters are gay/lesbian/bisexual? Well it was cool that none of them made a point/issue of this. Would it be like that in this homophobic world we live in? No. But hey.

The cast is a cut above Decoteau's norm. Lorielle New is %100 ham and holds the movie. I think the whole budget must have gone on her wardrobe, with some loose change to buy the giant pendulum. Danielle Demski (Miss Arizona apparently) and Amy Paffrath (from Evil Bong 2) are cute drunk girls who ditch their boyfriends for each other - they're also good. The rest of the cast (all male) don't get to do much except take their clothes off, no surprise there. The wrestler guys - Tom Sandoval (from Puppet Master 10) and Michael King, (serious hottie) apart from having as much charisma as the lesbians, have a very weird scene, where they roll around on the floor for five minutes while the mad hypnotist writhes naked in a chair with a whip! Oh yeah and Greg Sestero from The Room has a cameo - more weirdness.

It's all schlocky, but there's some cool story lines going on that keep you intrigued and the cast do a good job keeping you entertained. There's hardly a slo-mo scene in sight, no filler or pointless shots of scenery, not even an extended shower scene, which is what a lot of Decoteau's previous movies have been full of.

Basically, this is an Amicus throwback - crazy dialog, weird characters and a fun contribution from the cast. It kept me entertained. More of this please, David.