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 The Pit
(1981) on IMDb

The Pit (1981)

Jamie wouldn’t kill anyone…unless Teddy told him to!

The Pit, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17959875
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17959875

The Pit is a 1981 Canadian horror film directed by Lew Lehman, based on the novel “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by John Beaird. The film follows a socially awkward 12-year-old boy named Jamie, who discovers a pit filled with man-eating creatures and decides to use them to get revenge on those who have wronged him.

The movie has a unique premise that sets it apart from other horror films of the era. The idea of a young boy using monsters to exact revenge on his tormentors is both intriguing and unsettling, and the film does a good job of building suspense and tension throughout.

The young actor who plays Jamie, Sammy Snyders, delivers a convincing and unsettling performance, conveying both the character’s innocence and his increasing obsession with the creatures in the pit. The supporting cast is also solid, with competent performances from the adult actors.

The movie is not without its flaws, however. The pacing is slow at times, and the special effects used to depict the creatures in the pit are not particularly convincing. Additionally, some of the scenes featuring the teenage characters can be cringe-inducing and feel out of place in a horror film.

Overall, The Pit is an interesting and unique horror film that is worth a watch for fans of the genre. While it may not be a classic, it offers an unsettling and sometimes disturbing glimpse into the mind of a disturbed young boy and the monsters he controls.

Cast

  • Sammy Snyders as Jamie Benjamin
  • Jeannie Elias as Sandy O’Reilly
  • Sonja Smits as Mrs. Lynde
  • Laura Hollingsworth as Marg Livingstone
  • Richard Alden as Mr. Benjamin
  • John Auten as Library Janitor
  • Laura Press as Mrs. Benjamin
  • Paul Grisham as Freddy
  • Wendy Schmidt as Christina
  • Allison Tye as Alicia
  • Edith Bedker as Louise
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