Pit and the Pendulum
Released in 1961.
Directed by Roger Corman
Screenplay by Richard Matheson
“the agony of my soul found vent in one loud, long, and final scream of despair”
Pit and the Pendulum movie poster
The Pit and the Pendulum is the second of the low budget Edgar Allan Poe adaptations by Corman. (the first was the House of Usher, 1960) I decided to review this film first because it’s my personal favorite of the Poe adaptations. Vincent Price’s top notch performance helps elevate this movie into a gothic horror classic.
The story is set in middle age Spain, around the heyday of the Spanish Inquisition. Nicholas Medina, played by Price, is a Spanish noble who resides in a spooky castle, the basement of which is filled with his father’s many torture devices. He is terribly grief stricken by the recent death of his wife, Elizabeth, played by the devilishly carnal Barbara Steele. The movie opens with Elizabeth’s brother Francis, played by John Kerr, coming to the castle to inquire about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his sister’s death.
The movie unfolds as Francis and the viewer gradually learn about the gruesome history of the castle and the events that lead to Nicholas’s mental instability. In a terrifically horrible flashback, it is revealed that a young Nicholas witnessed the murder of his uncle and mother by his father, for adultery. (it must be a real downer to be married to an Inquisitor) His wife’s death and his mother’s death are similar in nature, which further adds to his emotional turmoil.
After Nicholas’s doctor arrives, strange occurrances begin happening in the castle. The harpsicord is played and Elizabeth’s ring left on the keys, the maid claims to have heard her speak, and Elizabeth’s room is ransacked. Either Elizabeth is alive, her ghost is haunting the castle, or someone is perpetrating a hoax on the living inhabitants.
The shock is too much for Nicholas, whose condition deteriorates rapidly. The climax comes soon afterwards, which includes various torture devices, especially the one mentioned in the film’s title.
I must say I liked almost everything about this movie. From the creepy oil and water paint titles, to the horrific last shot. The performances are mostly good, with Price’s being fantastic. John Kerr as Francis seemed a bit wooden, but his performance was adequate overall. The setting and props are low budget, but done tastefully in a haunted house kind of way. (cobwebs, candles, ornate furniture)
If you are looking for a strict interpretation of Poe’s work, you won’t find it in any of the Corman Poe adaptations. They aren’t really adaptations at all, but movies based on the inspiration of Poe’s short stories.
The pacing of the movie is very effective. The tension and horror build gradually throughout the whole movie, culminating in a violent climax. (come to think of it, the majority of Price’s movies are like this)
If you are looking for a traditional gothic horror flick and a good Vincent Price movie, The Pit and the Pendulum would be a great choice. If you enjoyed it, check out the House of Usher and The Masque of the Red Death. Both are very similar in style.
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