Review of The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) by Al M — 13 May 2010

Stuart Gordon and writer Dennis Paoli constructed a great, underrated feature film of the Poe short story, The Pit and the Pendulum. Their trademark dark humor accents fine acting and an interesting adaptation of the tale which includes bits of other Poe work. Lance Henriksen in particular plays the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada with impassioned gusto and subtlety. The terror he delivers comes not simply from a well of evil, but from the more realistic fervor of one who deeply believes in their insane misguided views and acts on them.

Definitely not to be missed. My only complaint is the short screen time of the great Oliver Reed, but he does much with his brief appearance. As much as I love Vincent Price and the Roger Corman version, this rivals it and maybe surpasses it, albeit in different ways.