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Bloody Pit of Horror

Original title: Il boia scarlatto
  • 1965
  • Unrated
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Bloody Pit of Horror (1965)
Writer Rick and his publisher Daniel Parks finally find the ideal location in Italy to shoot some photographs for Rick's Horror photo-novel when they come across an ideal spot. The seemingly deserted castle looks perfect from the outside, so Rick and Daniel, accompanied by his secretary Edith, their photographer Dermott, and his five young models decide to break in. They soon find the castle is actually occupied by former actor, Travis Anderson, who initially is annoyed with these visitors until he recognizes Edith, his ex-fiancèe amongst them. He decides to give them permission to use his castle, but warns them that the dungeons are off limits. Will they heed his warning?
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
74 Photos
Horror

A photographer and models go to an abandoned castle to shoot some sexy covers for horror novels. Unbeknownst to them, the castle is inhabited by a lunatic who believes himself to be the rein... Read allA photographer and models go to an abandoned castle to shoot some sexy covers for horror novels. Unbeknownst to them, the castle is inhabited by a lunatic who believes himself to be the reincarnated spirit of a 17th century executioner.A photographer and models go to an abandoned castle to shoot some sexy covers for horror novels. Unbeknownst to them, the castle is inhabited by a lunatic who believes himself to be the reincarnated spirit of a 17th century executioner.

  • Director
    • Massimo Pupillo
  • Writers
    • Romano Migliorini
    • Roberto Natale
  • Stars
    • Mickey Hargitay
    • Walter Brandi
    • Luisa Baratto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    4.5/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Massimo Pupillo
    • Writers
      • Romano Migliorini
      • Roberto Natale
    • Stars
      • Mickey Hargitay
      • Walter Brandi
      • Luisa Baratto
    • 77User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:38
    Trailer

    Photos74

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    Top cast14

    Edit
    Mickey Hargitay
    Mickey Hargitay
    • Travis Anderson
    Walter Brandi
    Walter Brandi
    • Rick
    • (as Walter Brandt)
    Luisa Baratto
    • Edith
    • (as Louise Barrett)
    Ralph Zucker
    • Dermott - Photographer
    Rita Klein
    • Nancy
    Alfredo Rizzo
    • Daniel Parks
    • (as Alfred Rice)
    Barbara Nelli
    • Suzy
    • (as Barbara Nelly)
    Moa Tahi
    • Kinojo
    Femi Benussi
    Femi Benussi
    • Annie
    • (as Femi Martin)
    Nando Angelini
    • Perry
    • (as Nick Angel)
    Albert Gordon
    • Raoul
    Gino Turini
    • Anderson's Henchman #1
    • (as John Turner)
    Roberto Messina
    • Anderson's Henchman #2
    • (as Robert Messenger)
    Anthony La Penna
    • Travis Anderson
    • Director
      • Massimo Pupillo
    • Writers
      • Romano Migliorini
      • Roberto Natale
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was refused a UK cinema certificate in 1967.
    • Goofs
      When Raoul's supposedly dead body laying tied to the bed next to Rick, you can see him blink multiple times.
    • Quotes

      Travis Anderson: Mankind is made up of inferior creatures, spiritually and physically deformed, who would have corrupted the harmony of my perfect body.

    • Crazy credits
      Filmed in PSYCHOVISION!
    • Alternate versions
      The film has 2 main versions. The original Italian version, "Il Boia Scarlatto" ran 83 minutes. The full length version was released on VHS by Something Weird under the title "A Tale of Torture" (1993).
    • Connections
      Edited into RiffTrax: Rifftrax: Bloody Pit of Horror (2012)

    User reviews77

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    "My perfect body... in the poisonous clutches of The Lover Of Death!"

    • 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.
    • bensonmum2
    • Apr 2, 2005
    • Permalink

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Bloody Pit of Horror?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the US-Version and the Uncensored Italian Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 16, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Bloody Pit of Horror: A Tale of Torture
    • Filming locations
      • Palazzo Borghese, Artena, Rome, Lazio, Italy(interiors)
    • Production companies
      • M.B.S. Cinematografica
      • International Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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