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Catalog/Horror/The Pit and the Pendulum
The Pit and the Pendulum poster
C
Average
MASTER SCORE 45.1 / 100
1991·Horror / Romance·1h 37m

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

“A bizarre descent into hell from the creator of Re-Animator.”

Set during the height of Spanish Inquisition. The beautiful and kind-hearted Maria is arrested as a witch when she inadvertently cries out in horror at the public whipping of a child. As Maria’s husband Antonio tries to save her, Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, determines to punish Maria with torture for the desire she inflames in him. Loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe's classic short story.

Above the Line
Stuart Gordon·DirectorDennis Paoli·ScreenplayEdgar Allan Poe·Short StoryAdolfo Bartoli·Director of PhotographyRichard Band·Original Music ComposerAndy Horvitch·Editor
Cast
Lance Henriksen·TorquemadaStephen Lee·GomezWilliam Norris·Dr. HuesosMark Margolis·MendozaCarolyn Purdy-Gordon·Contessa D'Alba MolinaBarbara Bocci·Contessa's SonBenito Stefanelli·ExecutionerJeffrey Combs·FranciscoTom Towles·Don CarlosRona De Ricci·Maria
Full Crew
(16 credits)
Directing· 1
Stuart Gordon·Director
Writing· 2
Dennis Paoli·ScreenplayEdgar Allan Poe·Short Story
Camera· 1
Adolfo Bartoli·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Andy Horvitch·Editor
Sound & Music· 1
Richard Band·Original Music Composer
Art & Design· 4
Giovanni Natalucci·Production DesignMichaela Gisotti·Costume DesignMaurizio Garrone·Set DecorationTodd Tucker·Special Effects Makeup Artist
Production· 5
Albert Band·ProducerMichael Catalano·Executive ProducerCharles Band·Executive ProducerPerry Bullington·CastingRobert MacDonald·Casting
Other Departments· 1
Benito Stefanelli·Stunt Coordinator
By the Numbers
45.1
OF 100
Master Score
6.0
OF 10
IMDb
56%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
$3K
ROI -100%
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind The Pit and the Pendulum's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#F8E800
#800000
#000000
Mood
Terrifying, Suspenseful, Dark
Composition
Layered
Era
1960s
Visual Style
Painted

“The poster depicts a scene from a horror film with a large, bright yellow scroll-like background dominating the center. Above, a wooden torture device with larg”

horrormysterydrama
Key Elements
Wooden GearsPendulumTorchTableChainsScroll
Atmosphere
Dark
Color Mood
Mixed
Setting
Indoor
Design Score
7/10
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THREE WAYS DEEPER

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