The Pendulum, the Pit and Hope

An imprisoned man finally escapes from an underground torture chamber. A relentlessly grim and oppressive rendition – comparable, in fact, to Alexandre Astruc's definitive TV version from 1964 – but the source material's despairing prose is sorely missed throughout. Famed Czech animator Svankmajer would later lend his uniquely surreal hand to such literary classics as "Alice In Wonderland" and "Faust" but this initial stab – his second from Poe material – is decidedly less appealing despite its very brief running time. Although the original source material was a short story itself, it has often been opened up for its cinematic adaptations which range from the popular Roger Corman/Vincent Price classic from 1961 to the little-seen but not ineffective Stuart Gordon/Oliver Reed version from 1990.

skeleton painted on ceiling weird mechanism b&w Bosch inspired sculpture normal props

To day that this might just be one of Jan Svankmajer's most horrifying films is no small thing, as MOST of this stop-motion films are mega-creepy and would frighten many viewers! It's based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story, "The Pit and the Pendulum" but Svankmajer manages to make the material even scarier than Poe did thanks to a bizarre imagination. This is not meant as criticism, as his distinctive style really brings the story to life and heightens the sense of foreboding.

The film begins with some poor sap being sentenced to die in the pit. Now this pendulum mechanism inside the pit as well as all the props used in the film are not the usual objects Svankmajer uses. Usually, his films are full of stop-motion involving everyday objects as props. Here, stop motion is rarely employed AND the film must have cost significantly more to make, as it looks like they built this sick underground torture chamber for the film! In addition to the clockwork pendulum, you see the most amazing Svankmajer prop I can recall--a robotic killing device that looks as if it was made by Hieronymous Bosch! You just have to see the film to see what I am talking about. It is super-scary, rather sick and amazing all at the same time. Wow...is this creepy!!

I am not really that familiar with the work of Jan Svankmajer, and this film came as quite an eye-opened; its one of the most intense and disturbing films I have ever seen. For this loose adaptation of Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" Svankmajer uses grainy black and white footage and shoots mostly from the point of view of the story's unfortunate protagonist. It's a struggle of man, his will to live, and his intellect serving this will versus the slow but seemingly inescapable domination of machines (sort of a medieval version of "2001: A Space Odyssey"). The visual imagery is fascinating and an outstanding presentaion of the Gothic sensibility. The film is also the best realization of Poe's fiction that I have seen (much better than the surprisingly bad adaptations of Poe that Vadim, Malle and Fellini directed in "Spirits of the Dead"). Its a masterpiece. I give it a 10. If you have the chance to see this work, I advise you not to pass it up.

In this horror masterpiece, Svankmajer utilizes his surreal filmmaking style to adapt the Gothic Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Pit and the Pendulum". Svankmajer definitely shows the audience that he is a master of his craft, which isn't only animation, but filmmaking itself. He is one of the true, underrated geniuses in all cinema, and this film proves it perfectly.

This is a flawless adaptation that is true to the source but unique in its own way. It has the ability to shock, haunt, and surprise due to its surrealistic and legitimately terrifying atmosphere and style. Few films have had the power to actually scare me, and this is one of them. It may only be about 15 minutes in length, but it is still one of the most effective horror films I have ever seen, and ever will see! I was on the edge of my seat throughout, my stomach filled with butterflies. This is a work of superb brilliance, a genuinely perfect film.

It's one of Jan Svankmajer's least comprehensible short films, and I think that also makes it one of his best. The vibes are so bad throughout, making this often feel like a nightmare put to film. And sure, you can say that about many of his short films, but you can really say it about this one.

It's easy to talk about the visuals in just about any given Svankmajer film, but here I'm realising that the audio is just as distinct. I don't know what he does to have all his short films sound this particular way, but it's just hit me here, more than any other short film of his.

The Pit, the Pendulum, and Hope unnerved me in just about the best way possible. What a trip.