J. Aldric Gaudet / Canada / 27 minutes
Synopsis
A person sentenced to death and imprisoned in the dark becomes the plaything of their jailers.
Gaudet’s short-film offers an adaptation of Edgar Poe’s eponymous short story. May feel a little long for the aficionados who already know it, but that’s the only potential drawback we could find.
The fairly experimental treatment makes the exercise interesting. We loved the way the rope, food, and rats, are unexpectedly suggested; these are little ideas that break the monotony of a constant narration/illustration parallel. Actually the director makes us imagine things rather than see them (a few pictures seem too dark, with a hugely contrasted black— which is justified by the story). The double incarnation for the protagonist, with Pamela Gardner on-screen and Kristi Boulton’s reading, is very good. Moreover, the film takes the liberty of exceeding a tiny bit the (abrupt) original ending, offering a pleasant last shot that goes out of the text and interprets a little further, which is always enjoyable.
As for the technical execution, it’s a flawless performance. The sound is gorgeous and impressive. And the images’ fluid aspect & digital special effects’ rendering give some video-game-ish aesthetics that increase the immersive dimension of the experience, which is unusual in a film based upon this author.
Conclusion
Simple, thorough, effective.
C.A.
« Pit & Pendulum » joins official selection for the Little Croco Festival’s second edition, nominated in the Short Film category.
Trailer:
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