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Bloody Pit of Horror (1965)

Il Boia scarlatto
A Tale of Torture
Il Castello di Artena
Crimson Executioner
Some Virgins for the Hangman
The Castle of Artena
The Red Hangman
The Scarlet Executioner
The Scarlet Hangman
Virgins for the Hangman


Cast:

Mickey "I was doing a Columbo impression in Lady Frankenstein" Hargitay is Travis Anderson
Walter Brandi is Rick
Luisa Baratto is Edith
Rita Klein is Nancy
Alfredo Rizzo is Daniel Parks
Barbara Nelli is Suzy


What the IMBD says:

A photographer and his models go to an old, 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 whose job it is to protect the castle against intruders.


Plot:

The Marquis De Sade quote starts the movie off. The Crimson Executioner wearing red wrestling tights and a mask is going to be executed for his crimes in the 1600s.

Cobra Commander's Daddy was routinely tried as a witch.
Cobra Commander's Daddy was routinely tried as a witch.
He swears to return before he is sealed in the non-Eddie-fied Iron Maiden. Never to be released, time marches on.

The credits roll as several cars head to a run-down castle. A group of photographers and models want to use the castle as a site. Perry climbs into a window to let them in. As they start exploring, one of the models has her sense of impending doom kicked on. They run into the caretaker. Parks, the publisher, meets with the owner who wants them to leave. The tired group is about to leave when the owner changes his mind and allows them to stay and leave in the morning. The group hurries to do some photos. However, they are told not to avoid the dungeons in the basement.

Getting to work, the models get ready for the shoot. Some of the photographers sneak off to the wine cellar. They find the non-Eddie-fied Iron Maiden.

More photo shoots, Rick, the reporter, is writing the article to go with the shoot.

I don't need to hear that I'm just skin and bones.
I don't need to hear that I'm just skin and bones.
In another photo shoot, Perry dressed as skeleton gets impaled after Raul and Suzy sneak off to the basement.

Max, the publisher, wants the deadline extended. He explains to the models how the show must go on and that Perry would want them to keep going on. Agreeing to triple their pay, the models agree. Examining the photos of Perry, they discovered a hooded man in the photo.

The Crimson Executioner wrestles Raul before finishing off Suzy.

The photographer and Rick re-examine the photo. The owner tells them the history of the Crimson Executioner’s castle and curse.

Later, the owner peeks in on the models. He vows the Crimson Executioner will get his revenge.

Here's a little something for the ladies..
Here's a little something for the ladies..

Rick and the other guy open the non-Eddie-fied-Iron Maiden and find Suzy. Rick sends the guy for help. He discovers the rope was cut not frayed. Rick warns Max the publisher to watch the girls.

Edith reveals she was engaged to the castle’s owner, Travis Anderson, an actor and muscleman who disappeared several years earlier.

Camilla is tied into a spider web with numerous arrows aimed at her. Rick tries to go in and save her when the spider bites him.

The guy who went for help was killed and is driving around in circles.

The caretaker knocks Rick out.

Travis, the owner, left the world to keep from being ruined. He became the Crimson Executioner and will eliminate Edith’s friends.

In the dungeon, Crimson Executioner will torture all the models. Elsewhere, a bed of nails is lowered on Rick who manages to barely escape. Crimson Executioner is using the rack and ice water.

Are you sure, this'll take care of that pulled nerve?
Are you sure, this'll take care of that pulled nerve?

Rick versus the servant. Edith warns him about Travis the owner and manages to escape.

Travis the Crimson Executioner BBQs Max the publisher.

No one will defeat me in the steel cage match for the championship belt.
Hogan, no one will defeat me in the steel cage for the championship!!

Rick is chased by the other servant.

Back at the dungeon, Travis the Crimson Executioner is still torturing the girls and gets Edith ready for the hot tar. Suddenly, the Crimson Executioner walks in, Rick used the original as a dummy.

Travis the Crimson Executioner versus Rick. Travis gets impaled on a corpse. He dies mourning the corruption of his body.

Rick frees Edith as Travis falls over. Philosophy ensues as they leave.


What I say:

A European movie that is dubbed into English may be right on the mark as an art movie. Lets face it, people would throw a tantrum because it wasn't subtitled. Dubbing for a horror movie, it loses something in the translation. Though, I doubt in Italian a maschostic nutjob who believes himself to be a 17th century reincarnated executioner would never considered brilliant.

Mickey Hargitay was best known for starring in a number of second hand Hercules type movies. He was also known for marrying Jayne Mansfield and being the father of Mariska Hargitay of Law and Order: SVU fame. He also popped up as the police officer in Lady Frankenstein.

A European horror movie based on the Marquis de Sade with a villain dressed like a Mexican wrestler attacking models. That sentence should make any movie sound better. Too bad El Santo wasn't available to stop him. Guess he was too bust handling the Samson in the Wax Museum or teaming up with Captain American to stop the evil Spiderman in Turkey's epic 3 Dev Adam.

We saw what happened in the Brainiac when a sorceror is reincaranted a few hundred years later wants revenge on the descendants of those who tossed him in the fire. However, Bloody Pit of Horror has a bodybuilder who thinks he's the return of some infamous Inquisition judge who gets his jollies by torturing models from 1960s girly magazines.

One of the big problems with many horror movies is the lack of characters. Or a better way of putting it, most characters are so interchangeable, you can't tell them apart. All the models are dumber than a collective fence post except for the one, the one who is always the new one. One of the good things about this movie is that it shows that groups of horror movie women had the same IQ level as any of the counselors from Camp Crystal Lake in the Friday the 13th mvoies of the 1980s.



3 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"I'm not just a dumb blonde, you know."
"You make a beautiful corpse."
"You can't think like an alley cat?"
"Skeletons on't have nerves."
"Deliberate murder?"
"Now, you'll be punished for your letchery."


Morals of the Story

Plywood was common in the 1600s.
Skeleton suits are stylish.
Nail clippers are an escapoe artist's best friend.
Lackeys must wear striped shirts.


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