Product Details

• Actors: Lorielle New, Stephen Hansen, Bart Voitila, Jason Stewart, Andrew Bowen
• Directors: David DeCoteau
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: E1 Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002VRNJ12
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,082 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Seven students arrive at a secluded mansion to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by JB Divay, a bizarre hypnotist with a dark past. At first the group dismisses JB’s eccentricities… until the students start disappearing. Directed by David DeCoteau

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is absolutely wild, March 13, 2010

By 

Gregory Holmes "DeCoteau Fan" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum (DVD)

A dominatrix hypnotist, lesbians making out, a mad scientist who is an abusive father, classical music (Chopin I think), buff boys wrestling in their underwear, hundreds of ticking clocks and cactuses (excuse me JB - CACTI) lots and lots of cacti. These are the main ingredients in David Decoteau's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, one of the most fascinating, beautiful and peculiar films it has ever been my pleasure to see. This one is really Decoteau at his absolute best, certainly one of the finest films of his career, ranking right up there with the original BROTHERHOOD and LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY. This one wont be to everyones taste but if you are adventurous and love truly original film making this one is a genuine must see. The film has a great script and some really fine performances. How great to see Michael King back in a Decoteau film. He made quite an impression in WITCHES OF THE CARRIBEAN and he truly outdoes himself in this film (particularly in the aforementioned wrestling sequence). The music score is very good with selections from many different genres. Howard Wexler is once again the director of photography and the results he gets are astounding. This is a beautiful looking film, in fact I would dare say it is the most beautiful film Dave has made to this point (although BLONDE HEAVEN aka MORGANA is a close second). The shots of the lethal pendulum in action are breathtaking. / The mood of the film ranges from incredibly (almost hilariously) erotic to genuine suspense to high camp and under the skilled direction of Decoteau it all comes together quite nicely. I suppose viewers should be advised that this bares no genuine resemblance to the Poe story (although there is a pit of sorts and most definitely some impressive pendulums) It's obvious I'm a real fanboy of Decoteau but anyone who appreciates well made independent erotic horror films should love this one. The DVD provides a flawless anamorphic transfer and 5.1 Dolby soundtrack. Also included is a trailer for BROTHERHOOD 5 and the trailer for PIT. An hour of behind the scenes footage is included and it is the real stuff, not some cleaned up series of self-congratulatory interviews but a genuine look at Decoteau and his crew and cast at work. You will get a true feeling for how his films are made from watching it. Only minor complaint is that Dave's name is spelled incorrectly on the back of the box. This is an outstanding DVD release of an outstanding film. Don't miss it, don't miss it, don't miss it. It's amazing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Poe, October 5, 2010

By 

Jonathan P. Higgins (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum (DVD)

First off, aside from a pendulum that's got a blade on it, this has nothing to do with Edgar Allen Poe's work. It's bordering on false advertising to say it is. It might be better to call it the "Dominatrix and Her Pendulum", but you really don't see much of the pendulum. That being said it's a moderately entertaining movie. The acting is so-so, but I think we're mostly supposed to look at the guys doing stuff with their shirts off. Having seen another film by the same director where the shirts off scenes went on too long with guys doing the same thing for the story to have much momentum, this is better. It moves OK. No nudity except for the dominatrix. That made me a little uncomfortable. The "surprise" ending was a hard sell for me, but most of the film requires some pretty intense suspension of disbelief anyway so by the end I was in "whatever" mode. Would love to see a MST3000 take on it, but with a clever friend you could easily add the commentary yourself.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor Edgar Allan Poe, March 4, 2010

By 

Alec Scudder "Johnny Joe" (Barcelona, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum (DVD)

I can't believe what I'm reading from the other reviewers. I respect all kind of opinions, but I must completely disagree
Decoteau seems to have loose completely the knack of how to do homoerotic films. The man actually thinks that he is doing something like real cinema! This film (?) hasn't even a decent makeout sequence. The only two very short ones are intermixed between two same sex couples. Even the wrestling scene (the only worth watching thorought the whole film) it's ruined being continuously interrupted by the awful sight of that amount of cheek botox woman who plays the lead role showing her boobs. Well, "played" maybe was a major word for what she does. Who were you thinking that will feel arouse with that, gay men.. lesbians... misguided heteros or maybe bisexuals? In my opinion, it's awful for everyone. So bad as the completely and utterly preposterous script (if can be called that way)
I use to enjoy the David Decoteau's films back then when he was working for heterosexual studios like Full Moon, etc. His films were a LOT more homoerotic then, some were equally boring but others were a total guilty pleasure and really fun to watch. Now that he can finally work with a LGBT channel his cinema has become more and more prude and auto-restrained than before.
If poor Edgar Allan Poe's could see his name associated with so many bad adaptations! Or the wonderful Vincent Price! In the old times, Roger Corman and American International were working with almost the same low budget as Rapid Heart does but nonetheless they were producing ART. This is not even fun or erotic.
Anyway... I must say something positive about this new "Pit and the Pendulum" Meanwhile "The Brotherhood V Alumni" feels like a 4 hours film, this has improved and feels like 3 and a half more or less. The thing is that both of them run 85' more or less!
Go more to cinema, watch cable television and evolve a little, Mr. Decoteau. Nowadays, homoeriticsm in the media goes further than showing cute guys in underwear walking like zombies. As you can check on shows like "Spartacus, Blood and sand" Or at least revisit your own videography, you'll be surprised by your own old material!
Even from a film like "The Covenant" totally inspired by your erotic style, you would learn a thing or two.

I am looking forward (or better said trembling) for watching "The Brotherhood VI Initiation" and "The Invisible Chronicles" By the way... the two would use the same house again...? LOL!