Exploring The Pit - Horror, Drama and an Evil Teddy Bear

[@jjenk911]

I believe that The Pit/Teddy should be remade the way it should have been written.

[@nope5657]

Yes...because "iT's aLL iN tHeIr HeaD!" is so original.

[@nope5657]

@EbberDeeMills Nope. The original draft was going to play the "is it really Andy?" game...but the doll was always going to be the killer.

[@alwaysxnever]

Absolutely. A remake that I can get behind.

[@cwgodzilla]

Agreed. Movies like this, that have great promise but weak execution, are the movies that are the best candidates for remakes.

[@thewannabegymbro]

Del Toro would be a perfect choice to direct

[@wjhull]

Man, it's weird seeing overlap between Good Bad Flicks and RLM's Best of the Worst. It's cool to hear the story behind how Lew Lehman took what could be a wonderfully disturbing psychological horror and turned it into a slapstick B-slasher. Maybe the director *really* had his heart set on making Porky's, and when he got the Teddy script, was like, "Okay, so exactly this, only Porky's..."

[@Johnjohn-gq3du]

William Hull you know Brandon does both, right?

[@kittenburger_prime]

@@Johnjohn-gq3du Pretty sure Brandon is NOT involved in Best of the Worst.

[@TheSydneyLad]

OK. I'm only 9 minutes in. Situations where producers change entire stories like these is why I view the animator Ralph Bakshi as a hero of mine because he punched a producer in the nose because the producer wanted to change Bakshi's script for Cool World. The change happened and Bakshi didn't end up getting sued over the assault, but I still love that passion he has for his art.

[@maria.whiddon]

"Hey! Ya wanna direct a movie?" "Sure!" 🤣

[@shainewhite2781]

The image at the beginning of the video is from the movie Magic with Anthony Hopkins, who won the Golden Globe for Best actor.

[@AshhNT1]

Why's he holding R.P. McMurphy? (jk)

[@efan2012]

One of my favorite movies and one Hopkins best and sadly more forgotten roles.. surprised we haven't gotten a GBF video on it yet.

[@shainewhite2781]

@John Paul Yes he does, but his girlfriend ends up becoming possessed by his ventriloquist dummy, ending the film with a twist.

[@Madbandit77]

@@efan2012 It's on DVD, though.

[@justindenney-hall5875]

@@shainewhite2781 No, it's not a supernatural horror film, the main character had a split personality and she was simply imitating fats

[@jacotromp1065]

This movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid!! For years I thought the movie didn't exist, but then the internet came around and I found the movie a few years ago. Thanks for the memmories dude!!!!

[@johnst3296]

I loved this movie. It was a great time back in the day, wandering down the aisle at a video store, seeing a movie like The Pit, and taking it home to check it out knowing nothing about it. Thank you for this! More people should have seen this movie, it was great fun.

[@MrCaptnrex]

You should totally do a video on THE FINAL SACRIFICE, more of the world should know of the great ZAP ROWSDOWER

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

Rowdoweeeeeeeeer!

[@Jesse__H]

Whatchu gonna do, ROWSDOWER?

[@wesleyyoung6002]

Noooooo rowsdower

[@LiamWillisFilmmaker]

Always love these Exploring videos as they give insight into not only troubled productions, but the film industry as a whole. Almost forgot about this film, shame the direction changed it so much yet I'm still interested in seeing it.

[@JimWellsIsGreat]

That kid creeps me out to no end.

[@kallemon]

I LOVE the Exploring-series! So well done!

[@jasperfen3754]

I saw this movie in the mid-eighties when I was a kid with my brother. I've never heard anyone refer to it at all since then. I enjoyed it, but would never have thought so much was involved in making the film.

[@shainewhite2781]

12:40, Nomads was Directed by John Mctiernan who would later Direct Die Hard And Predator.

[@Emulous79]

That is one weird yet atmospheric movie.

[@samsonthesaxman]

One of the first horror movies I ever saw, as a 10 year old, still frozen in my mind all these years later...making the popcorn now!

[@jwnj9716]

Its a fun movie although I prefer the Gate more.

[@CorbCorbin]

Jw Nj 🤘🏼

[@NathanLJustice]

Saw the gate in the theater as a kid. I thought it was so cool.

[@PictureProductStudio]

Have you seen anything else from The Gate's director Tibor Takács? I first noticed him making a crap ton of cheap b-movies but it always felt like he's a very capable director who can do something amazing. Then I've discovered his 1989 movie I, Madman and was positively shocked because it's amazing: very odd, but also very stylish and inspired. I highly recommend this one.

[@jwnj9716]

Oh hell yeah, I enjoyed I, Madman. Doesn't get mentioned much.

[@CorbCorbin]

Jw Nj I, Madman is one of my favorites! Saw it when I was about 12 years old. Such a trippy movie. Has Jenny Wright, who was also in Near Dark, which is another awesome film.

[@Mengetsu]

After 3 years of asking you about The Gate you talked about it :) The Pit's original script sounded so much better. Thanks for the great video as always.

[@spankyx8606]

this is great. wonderful research , pics, etc.THANKS

[@TheAustinWoolShow]

Hey it's good to see you back in my inbox. I just wanted to say that I love your content and I think your great. I know you've been dealing with some very real world issues involving the channel, but you have a solid fan base who support you. Cheers!

[@hetbigboy]

I saw this film on an episode of Redlettermedia's Best of the Worst. It's nice to get some more information on this film. Great work as always!

[@Clockwonk]

This is one of those films I'd love to see a remake for.

[@Djarra]

Great video, there is a BBC thing from the 80s (or earlier) that I remember, a kid whose family have been killed in the blitz ends up in Cornwall befriends demon in old one shaft and lures people who mistreat hem in there for the demon to devour. Before the mine collapses with an explosion. However the coda was him as an adult in an psychiatrist office with the analyst telling him it was all transference, the people were hiding looted stuff in the shaft and all died when a V2 collapsed it. So you don't know which is the true story.

[@31webseries]

I love that you did this one! I remembered seeing it somewhere on TV as a kid but all I could remember was kids pushing other kids into a pit with monsters in it. Now I actually have a name and plot to go with the image! Wow, major flashback here.

[@RalphGrella]

That 1st Ed monster manual pic! Nice!

[@danzig3462]

I remember when RedLetterMedia watched this film on best of the worst with screenplay writer Simon Barrett.

[@garydarnell3117]

I like the pit but I prefer the pendulum.

[@espurious]

Why not both?

[@cavv0667]

@@espurious ... The Pit and The Pendulum?

[@yetanotherrandomyoutubecha4382]

We get it, you have a superior taste in Horror because you know Edgar Allan Poe. Nerd :D

[@jamstonjulian6947]

@@yetanotherrandomyoutubecha4382 It is a well known film adaptation as well

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

That pun almost swung right by me...😉

[@x.atheista]

OMG! Zap Rowsdower "The Canadian Chuck Norris" "His punishment is... ...Much more polite! 🤣

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

Terramorfo AV And maple-scented-

[@oldmanbob417]

Thanks! I love the exploring videos!

[@mastershredder846]

Canucksploitation 2!! I wouldn’t know bout Brandon if it wasn’t for Cecil! Love you both!!! #ltdb #teamworkmakesthedreamwork 🤘

[@aSinisterKiid]

The Gate is a brilliant film. It's the only movie that ever gave me true nightmares. You should absolutely do an episode on this movie. It's such a great movie from the time with its practical effects. It was so scary when the parents faces melt off.

[@shainewhite2781]

8:38, that's a good line right there.

[@pixystixnfairycrack]

My old roommate was a huge metal head. Never saw him without a Cannibal Corpse or Burzum shirt on and his room was plastered with posters for black metal bands. This movie gave him nightmares for years and I never, EVER let him live that down. XD

Great video as usual. Love your work. Cheers!

[@matthewvandiver9965]

I first saw this a couple years ago at an Alamo Drafthouse special showing. I liked it well enough. "I wonder if there's beer on the sun."

[@tonesdad0408]

8:30 Its that juxtaposition of two things that shouldn't be that can often make things creepier

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

I think the original script for the film could work, yes I know the “it’s all in your head” thing and a killer child has been done before but when done right it could be a good horror/drama film

[@christallh24]

Not at the time when it was originally written.

[@DepWilkerson]

I love your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@big3ye378]

if I don't see exploring Zap Rasdauer life won't be complete

[@cavv0667]

All I can say for this film is - It was a missed opportunity, and The Gate is an amazing movie!

[@2ndKrueger]

Another great video! 👌

[@thefonz2199]

This got me in the mood to watch CANNIBAL GIRLS with Andrea Martin and Eugene Levy.

[@Madbandit77]

Weird, but interesting horror comedy directed by Ivan Reitman, who wasn't proud of it and produced some stuff (Shivers, Rabid, Blackout, Animal House) before directing "Meatballs".

[@LaDracul]

AKA Canadian "Manos".

[@l3wdlemon708]

I see eugene levy, I watch.

[@feck2594]

This movie is so damn funny . The first time I seen it was about 15 year's ago . I had the flu , was up around 3 in the morning and it was on some random channel , it helped me through the illness . I will say though that kid actor really creeped me out .

[@hoggy3384]

I love this channel! These videos are so informative and well researched. Thank you sir!

[@jetfire851]

This reminds me a lot of Devil Times Five--specifically the director handing in unusable footage about a killer kid film and the studio scrambling to salvage something out of it. Also the copious amounts of nudity.

[@chrisberatis2612]

Excellent video Cecil please review Hardware directed by Richard Stanley.

[@justindenney-hall5875]

Good idea, I have that one on dvd.

[@Turtleproof]

I yearn for Cecil to say he'll do it by replying to your comment with, "This is what you want, this is what you get."

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

This reminds me of this movie I saw on the Sci-Fi Channel only once back in the 90's--it was called Pin, and it had this science classroom sort of mannequin that this kid would talk to, and I think it would talk back to the kid. Weirdly unsettling low rent film; never could find it on DVD.

[@jonknight4616]

Watched it and wow. While there was some strange tonal shifts, I found it disturbing on the whole. Nothing like the Gate at all. Thanks for the video, Cecil!

[@reesepacker7983]

wow this takes me back ..grew up in New Brunswick Canada (right next door to Maine U.S.A) i was only nine when this was released ..so i was only aware of it through promos on tv and newspaper ads for movies at the local theatres ( i date myself here lol) i did not see this movie until a few yrs ago (on KZbin ) ..it was underwhelming to say the least after decades of expectation ...there SHOULD be aremake ..though the movie industry seems only concerned with remaking movies that were done right the first time ( i.e. known property = $$$$ ) ..this movie and most of David Cronenberg's early Canadian produced horror films of the 1970's (especially Shivers and The Brood) completely grabbed my imagination ...though i had to wait until at least VHS days to see them ...though while low budget by American Hollywood standards they still have distinct creepy vibe..especially The Brood

[@scotthewitt258]

Just watched this this past weekend on Shudder. Hadn't seen it since it came out when I was 14 or 15.

[@commentcopbadge6665]

Snider threw a good football. lol 5:17

[@josephsawyer3982]

If I did everything my teddy bear told me I never would have been released from the psych ward

[@Klm49]

Your Teddy must not have been good at subterfuge. Mine made sure to teach me how to avoid ever getting caught... also about fabric softener.

[@kimblee1972]

My step brother currently lives on the land where the pit was dug for the film (woohoo east waupun!!) In the 80s we would go in the woods at night and scare the hell out of each other threatening to push each other into "the pit" good times!!

[@CinemaMacabro]

When I first saw this movie was in early 2003, it was on a torrent site called Tracker 3 torrents, Which specialized in rare films. It was possibly from a Japanese Laser disk rip, being that the format was widescreen, well cropped with bars. I always thought this film was underrated, however, this is the first time I find it out was based on a Novel, which has a cool cover. Great video

[@RedWolf777SG]

This is one of the few rare case where a movie needs to be remade and this is one of them. Nowadays, people love watching psychotic horror movies that makes you think.

[@SamShadow93]

I absolutely love this movie. I place it alongside movies like The Gate in terms of greatness :)

[@willmistretta]

I'm torn on how this one turned out. Without the twist from the original script, it makes no sense at all. On the other hand, it makes so little sense that it stands out for that reason.

[@Medraut00]

saw this one on tv. the ending gave the chills

[@morelenmir]

Interesting the kid is browsing through Mary Stewart books--is the one he puts back 'The Crystal Cave' by any chance?

[@BeeF82002]

I remember seeing the cover at the video store, never watched it but the cover was creepy as hell to me as a kid.

[@axecalibore]

This is a rare case where the movie more than lives up to it.

[@maxhill9254]

Thanks for your work, it's so informative!

[@mikeisernie]

Just saw this recently and loved it... it's so insane.

[@zachcouch8654]

This explains all my questions about this movie.

[@spacesatan5840]

The original script was better in every way

[@ilhamleo6348]

Can you explore film reing of fire 2002?

[@intothesoil]

You should do one on the gate from the 80s always loved that one!

[@Skreezilla]

The film is amazing when it is being scary, this needs a remake as it is so creepy. :(

[@simplegarak]

Real Zap Rowsdower facts: -Zap Rowsdower does not rent beer. -Four out of ten sacrifices agree that Zap Rowsdower is the bodyguard of choice. -Rowsdower can summon any tool to hand. As long as it’s a grappling hook.

[@NathanLJustice]

I didn't remember this movie until the clip of the old lady getting thrown in the pit.

[@dsandoval9396]

Another great video with interesting info packed in! TBH I'm not really into horror or slasher films (seeing as those are genres you greatly like) but I get sucked into every one of these videos and find myself hooked on the stories behind the camera on these movies. I just started working again so while I can't become a patron I can donate from time to time. I think I heard that PayPal is dipping it's fingers a bit too much in donations...What's the best way to donate? What services are you linked to?

[@Dantegrey1]

I am 50, so my Sherlock Holmes is Jeremy Brett, my Zorro is Duncan Regehr, my James Bond is Timothy Dalton, my Frank Buck is Bruce Boxleitner... and my Tom Sawyer is Sam Snyders.

[@Ciborium]

A perfect companion piece to the RLM BOTW episode featuring "The Pit".

[@jonknight4616]

I need to see this, but how do I track it down? Oh, I see it might be on youtube! I think I'm going to watch it today! As for the gate, it doesn't sound like they have much in common beyond there being a 'pit/gate and having demon like creatures coming from it... as the central kid and his motivations are vastly different and the way the stories seem to play out? I'm going to go watch The Pit and see for sure, so I'll see for myself!

[@EndlessLaymon]

The Novel Teddy proves that keeping the orginal vision would have benefited the film.

[@matstarfighter8262]

The Gate is awesome!

[@CaptainVece]

Wish I could find the book. Can't find it anywhere.

[@babby4450]

I was hoping you would do this movie, thanks!

[@SegaCDUniverse]

As a kid I would watch this a lot and it would always creepy me out

[@erichr1539]

Another movie I need to add to my list of movies to see that Cecil reviewed.

[@kiarah.371]

anybody got a pdf of the book? it's nearly impossible to find...

[@starsINSPACE]

I looked around and doesn't seem like anyone scanned it and i don't think there's a official ebook. Moreover the only library that seems to have a physical copy is in Canada at McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario! 😑

[@kiarah.371]

@@starsINSPACE my heart, it breaks

[@waterking74]

9:50 ok that was too funny 😂

[@jeffpearljam1976]

Is Basset related to the guy that owned the bandits in the USFL?

[@SuperAV21]

Yes.

[@kuyarickkelley4719]

HOLY SHIT I SAW THIS MOVIE WHEN I WAS A KID. It creeped me the fuck out and I wanted to watch it again but couldnt remember then name or ever find it again. This is cool

[@winningtolose]

It makes me happy knowing people like Brandon. I was watching this video with serious deja vu cause i saw it on conucksplotation with brandon

[@TheBrandonTenold]

That reminds me, I should probably do another "Canuxsploitation-A-Thon" one of these days.

[@XxXspawndXxX]

KZbin's stopped recommending your videos to me, had to search for you manually after wondering why I hadn't seen any of your videos in months.

[@johnsnow6376]

This movie seems awesome and imma get on Amazon asap & see if I can't find & buy it! Heck yeah! 🖤🤟

[@rowanunderwood]

Does anybody else just get a Giant Grin on their face at the mere mention of ZAP ROWSDOWER?

[@silverglove2012]

Holy shit I remember this moive. Idk if it's on KZbin now.

[@captnardy]

I have been waiting for this since we spoke about it.

[@TheRausing1]

I think it’s a potentially really disturbing and terrifying idea... could make a great film if done right, with no fantastical or supernatural elements

[@scotthewitt258]

See what quotas do? "You have to use a Canadian director." "I'ma make a few minor tweaks to the script."

[@limaofarofa]

There are some great Harold and Maude moments in that, apparently.

[@regularshowman3208]

Having never heard of this movie before this video, I can say that the movie we got looks terrible. Not only that, but the version we didn't get sounds far more interesting, and it's a shame that the writer was stuck with a crappy director who didn't have any real passion for the film he was assigned to and who jeopardized even the plot he ended up with because he had no spine to tell his wife to just leave the set if she didn't like what he was filming.

[@AubreyTheKing]

It pisses me off when movies like these don't get remake. But instead Hollywood wants to waste our f*%king time remaking classic horror films like Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday The 13th, Psycho, Carrie, Child's Play etc. Good films already. Remake a horror film that REALLY needs it! Remake The Pit! And use the original script! I pay to see this remake! Good Exploring video, GoodBadFlicks! Speaking of The Gate, you should do that one next! That's a GREAT film!

[@Optics2024]

I watched this hoping it was going to be so bad it would be good. Actually I thought it was just good. Ok there's some laughably ridiculous moments and they in themselves are entertaining and fun. But actually once you get past all that it's actually quite a good film with some interesting ideas. Once the creatures climb out of the pit the film loses its way and ultimately it's intrigue. There's also the start to the film which confuses the timeline and the whole thing is repeated later in the film. If that last sentence confused you it's just as confusing watching it. The acting for the main couple of characters is ok, the idea itself is good. You also have to remember it's of it's time in terms of the nudity and general creepiness towards women of the main character. Yes I've listed lots of problems, and the film certainly has lots of problems, but I like it. It reminds me of the kind of film I'd come across as a kid on late night television and watch. If you can put its issues aside I'd recommend giving it a go if you've never seen it. It would be great to see a dark remake of this film as the writer intended it to be.

[@johnmc6155]

Good vid GBF, typical (directors wife) wanting to not do nudity. The director should have been fired earlier...and NOT re-hired.

[@LeXyStAr77]

The Gate is a Great flick..love it... Itd be cool if 'The Pit/ Teddy' was remade today in its Correct way

[@66cuda]

Brandon tenold did a review of this review of this flick, also good

[@robthequietoriginal]

"I wonder if there is beer on the Sun?"

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

_"Lou Lehman never directed again."_ Color me shocked...🙄

[@oneofone210]

I saw this when I was like eight, the tralalogs almost scared me but I couldn't see them lmao. Gonna read the book!

[@BoyNamedSue4]

The pit! I fell into the pit. You fell into the pit. We all were in the piiiiiiiiiiiittttttt