Amazon.com Customer Reviews
 Rated 3 out of 5
"... what sweet rest there must be in the grave."
Vincent Price is at his best in this creepy horror tale, loosely based on the Edgar Allan Poe story. The setting is just after the Spanish Inquisition and the film is well stocked with musty torture chambers, misty castles, thunder and lightning, entombed bodies and so on. The storyline involves Price’’s belief that he is his father, an infamous member of the Inquisition known for viciously torturing his prisoners. The second of B-movie king Roger Corman’’s adaptations of Poe’’s stories, with a script by Richard Matheson. Rated 5 out of 5!
Secrets down below
The Pit and the Pendulum. One of the most popular supense/horror films of all time comes back in a completely restored edition on DVD. In comparison to the VHS, you may see things you never did before, considering things are much more clear.When Francis Barnard (John Kerr) here’’s his sister Elizabeth (Barbara Steele) has strangly died in Spain where she and her husband Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price) resided, he goes to find out more of the details. When he gets to the mysterious place, he knows that Nicholas is keeping something from him. He is even more shocked to hear that she died 3 months from the date he arrived. When the family doctor (Antony Carbone) arrives, Mr. Barnard is informed of what really happened after the Dr. Leon unintentionally tells him what happened. It turns out that Elizabeth became obsessed with the torture chamber that was inherited by Nicholas from his father who was a Grand Inquisitor.
Then, one day Elizabeth accidentally locked herself inside the iron maiden and died of shock. Nicholas’’ sister Catherine (Luana Anders), who is visting the castle for the time being, tells Mr. Barnard to take pity on her brother for he witnessed their father torture their Mother and Uncle when he was a little boy. Strange things soon start to happen around the Medina castle. The Harpsicord, which Elizabeth used to play, is heard being played throughout the castle even though no one visiting, or who lives there can play. Elizabeth assumingly whispers to Maria the maid while she was cleaining a room. Elizabeths room is in smitherings after presumably being destroyed by her. While Catherine, Mr. Barnard, and Dr. Leon are all in hot pursuit to find out what’’s going on, Nicholas seems to be going crazy. But there’’s more to this story then meets the eye, for is Elizabeth really dead? The acting in this movie I have to say was wonderful. It couldn’’t have been any better. When you watch the trailer on the DVD, it is true when the narrorater says John Kerr has a challenging roll, for I thought he may have had a little trouble doing it. Vincent Price, now he was great at his part. He could change his personality so well, it kind of makes you think. Luana Anders and Barbara Steele, both very beautiful and talented actresses make this movie an even better addition to your collection. Antony Carbone, now there’’s a man that can act like a deciever and a friend at the same time. I can understand why this movie was a hit. It keeps you at the egde of your seat and never gets boring. Luana Anders just mesmerized me in her beauty. By the way, she’’s my cousin.
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