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19 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Mickey Hargitay's Shining, or should I say, well-oiled Moment, 13 January 2004 Author: Euterpe_Jones
I can't recommend this piece of 1960's Italian Eurotrash highly enough! Mickey Hargitay has never been better than he is here, as the reclusive actor gone mad and possessed by the evil spirit of the Crimson Executioner. So, what's a guy to do, but oil his bare chest, don bright red tights (it looks like he has an armadillo down his trousers, no wonder all the girls are so scared of him!), a big shiny gold pendant, a black Zorro-type eye mask and a cute little red hood. Then he proceeds to sadistically torture and kill a group of young fashion models who have the misfortune of accepting his hospitality.The torture chamber is vast, stylishly equipped, and just the sort of thing you wish you had down in your own basement. The gore is laughably lame and fake, but it's the sheer leering lasciviousness of this film that makes it such a turn-on. FX? Forget about that, and forget about plot too: this film's fuel is good IL' testosterone. That's why it doesn't have to make sense.Mickey easily upstages all the other actors, chewing up the scenery with a conviction that's almost a bit spooky. But mostly his grandiose performance will evoke howls of laughter. His character is possibly the most verbose serial killer/psycho in film history. He gets to deliver some truly choice bits of camp dialog that will have you rolling on the floor laughing your ass off. If I had been one of his victims in the bloody pit of horror, I would've screamed "Will you PLEASE just SHUT UP about your perfect body and KILL ME, already?!!"Deservedly considered a camp classic by straights and gays alike.Hargitay made one other worthwhile foray into the Eurotrash genre, called "The Reincarnation of Isabel." Together these films would make an absolutely fabulous double bill. Both these flicks are real crowd pleasers and are sure to make your video party unforgettable. If you require a third Hargitay feast, add "Delirium" to see Mickey's foray into the giallo genre.The opening credits inform us "Based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade." Very loosely.I urge you to run right out and obtain your own copy of this masterpiece, to shamelessly wallow in over and over again.
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: The most unhinged and hilariously crazed performance of a psycho in all exploitation cinema, 4 November 2006 Author: TimothyFarrell from Worcester, MA
Camp lovers the world over, I present you with "Bloody Pit of Horror". Few horror / exploitation films I've seen manage to be so ludicrous, over-the-top, and homoerotic. And as far as I'm concerned, thats a heavy recommendation. Sure, its not "Citizen Kane", but not everything is going to be. "Bloody Pit of Horror" is so outrageous that I doubt I'll ever forget it and certainly enjoy rewatching it on rainy days. Its also one of the most sadistic Italian horror flicks of the 60s (and thats saying a lot), but its so campy you really can't take it too seriously. The opening title card claims it to be based on the writings of Marquis de Sade, but I have a sneaking suspicion thats a marketing gag (even though I've never read de Sade).What makes the film such a campy delight you may ask? Is it the abundance of near nude beautiful girls, bizarre (and surprisingly innovative) torture devices, or the garish colors? Well, those do, but what has placed this film in exploitation infamy above all is Mickey Hargitay. Best known as Mr. Jayne Mansfield, Hargitay wasn't exactly a Thespian on the level of Olivier or Laughton. While he lacked some qualities such as subtly, he went way over the top. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is the most unhinged and hilariously crazed performance of a psycho in all exploitation cinema. "Bloody Pit of Horror" is worth watching simply for him. Check out the Special Edition DVD from the always reliable Something Weird. (6/10)
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Classic midnight horror, 15 June 2006 Author: haildevilman from Tokyo, Japan
Models and photogs go to an 'abandoned' castle to take pictures for a bunch of book covers and find a man living there. He turns out to be the reincarnation of the Crimson Executioner...and an insane lunatic.OK, it's hardly original, but it's still great.The torture devices were imaginative even if the low budget betrayed the execution. (harhar) Mickey Hargitay was never the best actor, but he was born for this role. And the ladies played the whole brain dead bimbo routine to perfection. (At least I hope they were playing.) And I even liked the music. Creepy atmospheric stuff. I'm still trying to find a soundtrack. Really.The last scene was a corker. Decent camera work too. See the DVD if you can, it's COMPLETELY uncut. It also has semi-related scenes from Mondo Cane II as an extra.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Highly entertaining low budget cheese,that's simply a lot of fun to watch, with a cool story and a fun OTT performance from Mickey Hargitay!, 4 April 2006 Author: (callanvass@hotmail.com) from victoria b.c canada
This is highly entertaining low budget cheese, that's simply a lot of fun to watch,with a cool story and fun OTT performance from Mickey Hargitay!. All the characters are cool, and sure the performances are bad but they are fun, plus I thought the opening was especially cool!. It has a lot of great camp value, and some of the victims looked like they were enjoying the torture, plus I loved the setting in that creepy old castle!. I got this in a DVD Horror set called A Taste Of Evil along with a bunch of other Horror films, and there are plenty of hilarious lines from Hargitay as he looked like he was having a blast playing the Crimson Executioner, plus this is now one of my favorite bad movies!. It has some violence, but it's not really all that gory, and It's well made and written for the most part, plus it had some awesome torture sequences too, my favorite one was surprisingly the ice water bit. Bad movie fans are going to love this, and it was pretty well made for it's type, plus I liked the ending as well. This is highly entertaining low budget cheese that's simply a lot of fun to watch, with a cool story and fun OTT performances, and I say it's a must see for all bad movie fans!. The Direction is good for it's type. Massimo Pupillo does a good job here with effective camera work, using a creepy setting, and just keeping the film moving at a fast pace. The Acting is predictably pretty bad but fun. Mickey Hargitay is tons of fun as The Crimson Executioner, he deliver some hilarious classic lines,looked hilarious in those red tights, and simply had a blast with the part, and I don't blame him he hammed it up like crazy and I loved it!. Walter Brandi is actually not bad as the hero, he was believable, likable had some good fighting skills, and played it straight!. Luisa Baratto is laughable as the girlfriend she looked like she enjoyed the torture scenes and gave a really bad performance. Rest of the cast are bad but fun as well. Overall a must see for all bad movie fans!. **** out of 5(on a bad movie level)P.S that scene with the woman that was trapped in the spiderweb with the laughably fake looking spider was a hoot!.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: "My perfect body... in the poisonous clutches of The Lover Of Death!", 3 April 2005 Author: bensonmum2 from Tennessee
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
- Seeking locations to use for photographs for a series of horror books, a group stumbles on what they believe to be a deserted castle. The castle happens to have been the former home of The Crimson Executioner – a centuries old murderer who was himself put to death in his own castle, but not before putting a curse on anyone who enters his castle. Of course, the castle isn't deserted, but instead is the home of a retired actor seeking solitude. He allows the group to spend one night and get as many photos as they can. His one request - don't go into the dungeon. Naturally, our group of photographers and models immediately make a beeline for the lower levels of the castle and discover an array of torture devices. The devices, it seems, will make good props for their photos. But something goes wrong and one of the male models is killed by falling spikes. Was it an accident or is there a murderer in the castle? It's not long before other members of the group begin to disappear. Has The Crimson Executioner come back to make good on his threat? - I honestly don't know when I've had this much fun watching a movie. In general, I hate the term "so bad it's good". But in this case, I think it applies like nowhere else. Bloody Pit of Horror has most of the trappings that are present in movies I look for – a big creepy castle, a dungeon, torture devices, scantily clad women, and a bizarre madman bent on killing everyone. What the movie lacks, however, is effective atmosphere and believability. But, if you don't take things too seriously, it's a nice little ride.- The madman is played by the one time husband of Jayne Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay. Hargitay is one of those Mr. Universe types. While he may not be much of an actor, he is wonderful as The Crimson Executioner. There have been killers in other movies who enjoy their "work", but none can match the enthusiasm of The Crimson Executioner. Toward the end of the movie, he traps everyone who is still alive in his torture chamber. Watching him literally run and jump from one torture device to the next is like watching a kid on Christmas morning. He actually has an orgasmic look on his face as he puts one of his victims on the rack. And his "costume" is just too much. He wears red tights, a red hood, a black leather belt, and a black mask that covers his eyes.- Another thing to keep an eye (or ear) on is the dialogue. The Crimson Executioner has some of the "best" lines I've ever heard. He goes on and on about how perfect his body is. And, how he must kill the people who have come into his castle to preserve the purity of his body. My favorite of these monologues takes place in front of a mirror. As The Crimson Executioner applies a liberal coating of oil to his chest he says, "Mankind is made up of inferior creatures, spiritually and physically deformed, who would have corrupted the harmony of my perfect body." You just don't hear lines like that in just any old movie - it takes something special like Bloody Pit of Horror - There are so many other points of the movie I would like to write about, but they really must be seen to be believed. For example, The Crimson Executioner has a group of henchmen that dress in matching outfits. It's as if they're appearing on the 1960s Batman television program. Another example, the reaction of the crew after one of their co-workers is killed. Do they immediately leave the castle like normal people would? No - they decide to finish their work in the castle for extra money and call the police in the morning. Yet another example, the room with the giant spider web, mechanical spider, and arrows that shoot from the wall is simply sublime. I could go on for days.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: deranged bodybuilder horror for the gay s&m crowd, 20 December 2002 Author: bukakkefriedchicken from fabulous Las Vega$!
Mickey Hargitay is a sadistic monster, torturing the castmembers while flexing and posing and spouting crack-up lines about the perfection of his physique. Tries for atmosphere at points, but this is rock bottom crud of the most enjoyable kind. Best line: "You, oh! You're an EGOTIST!" See it.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: It's a fun film with fantastically dreadful dialogue, 11 January 2007 Author: christopher-underwood from Greenwich - London
'High camp hokum from mid 60's Italy, when men were musclemen and women were dimmer than dumb', was what I wrote when first seeing this on video, and it still seems apposite. The girls look pretty odd at the beginning but look much better as they begin to lose their clothes. It's a fun film with fantastically dreadful dialogue. The main man looks a bit haggard by the end but pretty impressive earlier on when decked out as the, 'Crimson Executioner'. Watch out for the glorious spider web scene where so much effort has gone into the wires and so little into the eight legged creature. Balmy but endearing and the maniacal Hargitay is so over the top he is back up the other side.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: What's your name again? The Crimson…who??, 28 September 2006 Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls
Terrific, cheesy exploit-entertainment, this trashy…sorry BLOODY pit of horror! It's typical & campy Italian smut from the mid-60's; the era during which talented directors like Mario Bava ("Black Sunday") and Antonio Margheriti ("The Virgin of Nuremberg") scored big film-hits with their atmospheric Gothic horror movies. The less gifted but nonetheless ambitious directors naturally wanted to cash in on this successful trend and that resulted in fun flicks like this one. "The Bloody Pit of Horror" benefices from a great castle setting and some excellent scenery (marvelous torture devices), yet all the rest genuinely defines laughably inept and amateurish film-making. Regardless of the Gothic surrounding, the film doesn't contain one moment of tension and all the "gruesome" torture sequences end as randomly as they started. The one and ONLY reason why this film is comical instead of scary is due to the main character. The legendary Mickey Hargitay, who sadly passed away recently, portrays one of the oddest madmen ever to hit the TV-screen. His character Travis Anderson firmly believes he's the reincarnation of a medieval lunatic and submits a group of photographers & models that trespass his castle to some severely maniacal torture, using the ancient devices in his dungeon. His name is the Crimson Executioner (although Little Red Riding Hood would have been a much more appropriate name) and he clearly WORSHIPS himself. Whenever he's not playing torture games on his guests, he admires himself in one of the numerous mirrors of his castle or covers his exceptionally muscled chest in gooey massage oil. He never says "I" but always uses his full nickname to start even the shortest new sentence. "The Crimson Executioner will do this", "The Crimson Executioner shall that", "The Crimson Executioner bla bla bla…" Surely this film doesn't evoke many sentiments of fright or disturbance, but it's enormous fun to observe and at least it's never boring. The version I own on DVD suffers from one of the worst dubbing jobs in the history of cinema and the dialogs aren't exactly highly intellectual, either. For instance, two males open an eerie Iron Maiden coffin and the lifeless body of a young girl falls out. One of them says: "no one can daresay this was an accident!" Gee, you think? Needless to say "The Bloody Pit of Horror" is exclusively recommend to fans of trashy cult cinema. I'm sure the Marquis de Sade himself would have loved it.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: The Marquis DeSade never had this much fun!, 11 February 2002 Author: luciemanet (luciemanet@netzero.net) from Philadelphia, PA
Jayne Mansfield and her husband, Hungarian bodybuilder Miklos "Mickey" Hargitay were in Italy to shoot PRIMITIVE LOVE when Mickey took time off (about a weekend, judging from the quality of the movie) to shoot this one based (allegedly) on the writings of the Marquis DeSade. I have read some of the Marquis' books and while they are full of sex, violence and politics they describe no one like The Crimson Executioner. Okay here we go. Some people arrive at a remote castle to shoot photos for the covers of pulp novels (they are popular in Europe to this day!). The owner of the castle lets them use his dungeon but suddenly up pops some guy in red tights and a Lone Ranger mask claiming to be the 300 year old Crimson Executioner and it is his duty to punish them for their immoral behavior. I know we are supposed to sympathize with the innocent victims but the models up to this point are depicted as so self centered and empty headed it is hard to feel sorry for them even as we watch them being tortured. Then again maybe it is because the ordeals are so unconvincing. I mean, the girl on the rack has her arms bent even as C.E. is turning the wheel; and somehow I doubt the mechanical spider device he dreams up was widely in use back in the 17th Century. One very effective moment has one man trying to drive for help only to be shot through the neck by an arrow. The car drives aimlessly in circles with his dead body at the wheel. Nothing else in the movie approaches that level of intensity. Walter Brandi is good as the hero. He was also in THE VAMPIRE AND THE BALLERINA and SLAUGHTER OF THE VAMPIRES. Femi Benussi, who seems to get the worst of the tortures (maybe because she is blonde) was also in TARZANA, THE WILD GIRL. Mickey Hargitay also played Hercules once and did a few other movies too. Arnold Schwarzenegger once said Mickey was one of his role models. Does that mean Arnold might remake this movie? Let's hope someone talks him out of it.
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A bevy of models are tortured by a muscleman in tights, 4 March 2001 Author: thomandybish from Weaverville, NC
BLOODY PIT OF HORROR is a camp offering with homoerotic overtones. The reason for this is Mickey Hargitay, Jayne Mansfield's muscleguy husband. A group of models, a book publisher, his secretary, a horror writer, and a hairdresser encrouch on an old castle(the same one visited by a group of dancers in THE VAMPIRE AND THE BALLERINA)to shoot photos to be used as the basis for illustrations on pulp horror books. Hargitay is the master of the castles, and initially orders the group to leave, but relents when he sees the secretary, who used to be his girlfriend. Hargitay becomes unhinged when he sees the sexy goings-on of the models and dons red tights, a medallion and a hood, believing himself to be the late "Crimson executioner". He tortues the scantly clad lovelies in the dungeon with boiling oil, the rack, an iron maiden, a giant spiderweb and a revolving thingamajig with swords that kinkly peel of parts of the models lingerie the closer they revolve to it. The male characters are also dispatched in various ways(the coolest: the hairdresser attempts to drive for help and is shot with an arrow by one of Hargitay's servants in the middle of a left turn, and corpse slumps over the steering wheel, the car going in a continuous circle). Hargitay, who is dubbed with the rest of the cast(it's an Italian flick), goes way over the top. Give it a looksee if your a masochist or lover of models in distress!
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