Tweetienator Fine Gothic horror based on a story of maestro Edgar Allan Poe and a classic and masterpiece of Roger Corman and the great Vincent Price. The plot is also a classic - madness is spreading between the last members of a haunted family. Other must-see by the duo Corman/Price: House of Usher, Tales of Terror, The Raven, The Haunted Palace, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia. All made between 1960 and 1964.

SnoopyStyle Francis Barnard arrives from England to see Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price) in Spain. His late sister Elizabeth Barnard Medina (Barbara Steele) was Nicholas' wife. He is met by Nicholas' sister Catherine Medina. He is shocked that she had died three months earlier. He is told that she was ill but he is suspicious. They are joined in the castle by Doctor Charles Leon. He reveals that Elizabeth died of fright. Nicholas shows Francis his father's torture chamber who was a notorious torturer for the Spanish Inquisition.It's an American International Pictures directed by Roger Corman. Its B-movie status is unassailable. Its style is very old fashion. The Edgar Allan Poe short story could be interesting horror. This adaptation is less compelling. I don't care about Barnard and John Kerr is rather stiff. The acting is generally stiff or overwrought. This is more a mystery rather than horror. It's not actually scary. It's rather boring.

Shawn Watson Uber-cheap filmmaker Roger Corman found an affinity with Edgar Allen Poe in the early 60s and drummed out this pleasingly Gothic horror, which has actually turned out to be one of this best efforts. Shot in anamorphic Panavision with some lovely matte paintings and composites the film looks more technically sophisticated than his usual fare.Vincent Price plays the sorrowful Spanish nobility mourning the loss of this beautiful wife with gloomy melodrama while the co-actors add to the morbidity with equally glum performances. The castle sets are a bit stiff but have enough atmosphere to make them seem authentic. The nature of the story has a "Saw" feel to it and is most certainly an inspiration in some regards.At a brisk 81 minutes (and, knowing Corman, probably shot in 81 minutes also) there's no chance of it being boring or overwrought. I even found some of it to be quite innovative, including a clever moment I can see was reused in William Malone's 1999 version of House on Haunted Hill.Not exactly a breathtaking classic horror but it will entertain you if you are stuck for something appropriate on a dark and stormy night.

Claudio Carvalho After the mysterious death of Elizabeth Barnard Medina (Barbara Steele), her brother Francis Barnard (John Kerr) travels from London to Spain and without previous notice he arrives at the castle of her husband Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price). He is received by Nicholas' sister Catherine Medina (Luana Anders) that invites Francis to have dinner with her brother and her.Francis learns that their father Sebastian Medina was a cruel torturer of the Spanish Inquisition and Nicholas is a traumatized man that has witnessed the murder of his uncle Bartolome (Charles Victor) and his adulterer mother Isabella (Mary Menzies) being tortured and killed by his father when he was a kid. During the dinner, the family's friend Doctor Charles Leon (Antony Carbone) unexpectedly arrives and Francis discovers that his sister died of heart attack after visiting the torture chamber in the dungeons. Soon the place is haunted by strange events and Nicholas suspects of his servants Maximillian (Patrick Westwood) and Maria (Lynette Bernay) but Francis is convinced that Nicholas is the responsible for the death of his sister. "Pit and the Pendulum" is one of the best Roger Corman's movies despite the poor scenario that shakes in many scenes. The last time that I saw this movie was on 16 November 1999 on cable television and today I have just watched it again on DVD. The creepy story of Edgar Allan Poe is still engaging even when the viewer watches more than two times. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "A Mansão do Terror" ("The Manor of Horror")