There are weird movies and there are bad movies and then there's THE PIT. I don't want to use the word "unclassifiable" with regards to it, but it is truly such an odd and unique little horror film that I'd hate to have to describe it briefly. I mean, I could say something like "It's a film about a sexually repressed, but curious kid who talks to his teddy bear all the time and the bear often gives him advice about who to lure into this strange pit in the woods behind his house that has these little demon trolls or something in it", but that's a little reductive. Your immediate response upon hearing that synopsis may be to burst into laughter and that's perfectly reasonable (I know I would), but there's more to this film than a whacked out premise. While it's difficult to not snicker at some moments here, there are quite a few scenes with some genuine creepiness and this really comes primarily from actor Sammy Snyders and his lead performance as the boy - Jamie. Now I'm kind of half and half on the "creepy kid" genre and often find this type of film annoying a tedious, but THE PIT is one of my favorites. My affection for it derives mainly from the combination of Jamie being such a strangely disturbed kid (too old to have a teddy bear at all, let alone one that talks to him), the little mutant troglodyte creatures (which resemble the Critters from that popular 80s franchise) and the perverse sexuality of the movie overall. The story is that Jamie's parent's go out of town for a week or so and he is left in the care of a live-in babysitter (Jeannie Elias). As the days go by, the babysitter witnesses and becomes more aware of Jamie's ominous and inappropriate behavior as the drama begin to escalate between them. All the while, Jamie is learning more and more about what the troglodytes like to eat (spoiler alert: it's meat) and trying to come up with ways to feed them (as he has decided to become their caretaker for whatever reason). The film goes to some places you might expect, but there's a good deal of unsettling weirdness that cannot be predicted (or explained really). In listening to the screenwriter's interview on this disc's extras, there is actually something of an explanation for why the movie feels a bit off (casting choices and a key scene excised), but I must say that this is a case where I am kinda glad that it ended up as it did. As it stands, THE PIT is one of the more bizarre and wonderful movie watching experiences that you'll ever have and that is the truth.
-An Audio Commentary by Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and Film Historian Jason Pichonsky
-Problem Child - An Interview with Star Sammy Sniders (16 mins)
-The Babysitter - an Interview with Star Jeannie Elias (7 mins)
-Teddy Told Me To - An Interview with Screenwriter Ian. A Stewart (13 mins)
-The Music of Mischief & Monsters - an Interview with Composer Victor Davies (8 mins)
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ASTRO-ZOMBIES (1968; Ted V. Mikels)

Another nice disc from Kino here and this one is heavy on the commentaries. You have the previously mentioned RiffTrax commentary - which is of course quite funny. Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett provide their usual dose of delightful levity with this track and I guffawed several times while listening. But wait, there's more! Also included is a commentary the man himself - director Ted V. Mikels. This is a great little track with a very jovial Mikels recounting some entertaining and informative stories about how he made the film. He seems quite sharp and his memory of locations, actors and other details are quite solid. It's very nice to have this audio archive especially now that Mikels is no longer with us. Lastly, there is a final commentary track by Horror Cinema Historian Chris Alexander which is also quite explanatory and a good listen.
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