Too much of everything

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

BLOODY PIT OF HORROR is one of those films that one must discuss when talking about cinecheese with friends; it has so much to recommend it.Italian horror. Sixties. Girls. Bad acting. More girls. What's not to like?The Crimson Executioner ranks as one my top ten favorite bad villains, seemingly channeling Adam West on some bad Bat-hash,and generally giving his all for the cause.There are other things that give this movie its distinctive aroma, but the C.E. steals the show; he deserved a sequel,no matter how illogical it would've been.

I must begin this review with a disclaimer. Since this movie is based on my own life story, I cannot comment on it with complete objectivity. Nonetheless, I believe I can offer a unique perspective that some readers may find interesting. Let me begin by pointing out that the title role of Travis Anderson -- aka The Crimson Executioner -- is played by former bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, who is sometimes dismissively referred to as Mr. Jayne Mansfield. Mickey was not the greatest actor in the world, but his portrayal of The Crimson Executioner is truly inspired. The best scenes in the movie come after the Executioner dons his red costume and proceeds to subject the hapless visitors to his castle to a variety of ingenious tortures, acting the whole time like the kid in the proverbial candy shop. There is nothing particularly scary or gory about this. Some might even call it "camp." Whatever you want to call it, it's immensely entertaining.Mickey Hargitay is the reason why BLOODY PIT OF HORROR has become a cult classic. The Crimson Executioner was the role of his career, and Mickey definitely made the most of it. Indeed, I cannot imagine anyone except Mickey in the title role, which is why this movie will never be remade. Unfortunately, the first half of the movie is not quite as entertaining as its conclusion, since the focus is on the antics of the various visitors to the castle rather than on me, the Crimson Executioner. Again, however, I will admit to a certain lack of objectivity in this matter.My one quibble is with the title used for the American release. I much prefer the Italian title, IL BOIA SCARLATTO, which roughly translates as THE CRIMSON EXECUTIONER.

I'm not sure whether the version I saw on archive.org was uncensored, but whatever version I saw, it's obvious that the film makers pulled out all the stops on this one. Which is to say that this is trash, but it's high energy, entertaining trash.We've got Mr. Second String Bodybuilder Guy playing (actually, I think he looks great for the part, but he's no Steve Reeves) a homicidal maniac who believes that he is possessed by the spirit of another homicidal maniac from medieval times. He kills off his guests when one of them turns out to be a girlfriend from his previous life. He left her and withdrew from the world, you see, because she was corrupting his bodily fluids or some such.(BTW,how does a "strongman" get the money to buy and maintain an ancient medieval castle and a couple of henchmen,anyway?) The sight of her is too much for him, and he apparently feels that their presence imperils the purity of his bodily fluids again, so nothing will do but that he entrap and torture and/or kill the guests one by one.Anyway, the character is a real piece of work, and the actor who plays him is a hoot - he chews the scenery, flexes his nice shiny oiled muscles, and leaps around his torture dungeon to work on his victims with a glee befitting a 6 year old on Christmas.Gets extra points for a few nicely imagined death-traps and an admirable hero who tackles each new challenge and set back with stoic resolve. Docked several stars for some of the lamest choreographed fight sequences you can imagine - seriously, the last three deaths make no sense at all in terms of the laws of physics. Also docked for some crummy dubbing and sound sync - there are some pretty lame instances where the English words continue long after the actor has finished moving her lips. Still, if you are into crypto-gay S&M porn, or even if you aren't but just want some good, irresponsible fun, this movie should be right up your alley.

Has there ever been an exploitation icon like Mickey Hargitay? I've now seen him in three quite delirious Italian trash-fests. I watched in amazement at his turns in Renato Polselli's extraordinary double-whammy of Delirium and The Reincarnation of Isabel. And now this, Bloody Pit of Horror. Well, this boy's nothing if not consistent that's for sure. It's yet another example of over-the-top acting where Hargitay plays a humourless psychopath. There is no irony whatsoever in his performance, he plays it straight always. And this is absolutely why these performances are just so good. Hargitay is a muscle-man, not an actor. But he gives his all and the results are a strange mixture of the unintentionally hilarious and completely nasty. As I say, no one plays a psychopath like Mickey Hargitay.As for this movie? Well, it's incredibly entertaining that's for sure. It mixes the then then popular Gothic horror elements with sleaze and torture. The villain, the Crimson Executioner is a somewhat memorable villain it has to be said. Homoerotic and completely ridiculous. Then there is the absolutely mind-boggling giant web scene. Honestly, you will never see anything like this anywhere else, it's something else. In general, so is this film. It's another example of the Italians making a ridiculous film that just can't help but be entertaining. Its soundtrack is more easy listening lounge music of the type you will have heard in countless other Italian productions of the period. The sort of music that sounds equally inappropriate and perfect. In other words Bloody Pit of Horror comes recommended as a slice of psychotronic mayhem of the first order.