THE PIT was filmed (and originally released in 1981) in Beaver Dam (115 N. Vita). Over the 35 years since its release, The Pit has gained a bit of a cult following and now is back in theaters and available on DVD (Family Video).
It’s not really scary, so it probably won’t work if you are looking for an adrenaline rush. It could almost make it as a psychological thriller, since the 12-yr-old main character has been mercilessly bullied by schoolmates and he is obsessed with revenge. However, the evil pit is full of supernatural trolls so Freud won’t be able to provide all the answers. As a result, it’s probably most successful at unintended humor, not unlike other well-known B-rated horror flicks.
Unfortunately, unlike the other B-rated horror flicks, it’s not really appropriate for young audiences. The main character is obsessed with sex, which is light-hearted enough, but probably not the perfect choice for the kids.
Beaver Dam folks will recognize Swan Park, Williams Free Library and numerous other locals. They will also recognize a few names in the credits. It’s interesting to note that the actual pit (complete with trolls) was filmed in Waupun, which is no huge surprise to anyone who has walked around Waupun after 9pm.
Here’s the trailer: https://youtu.be/T-fSOX9tyoY
