Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.Com is the Definitive Horror Fan’s Documentary
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Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com will make you proud to be a genre fan, want to listen to the namesake podcast and have a beer with its stars.
Written by James “Crypticpsych” Lasome
December 21, 2010
Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com Trailer
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Official Site
Release: August 15, 2009 (Fright Night Film Festival)
Directed by: Kelly Marcott
Written by: Kelly Marcott and Natalie Milbrodt
Starring:
Wes Vance as Himself
Aaron T. Frye as Himself
Mike Vance as Himself
Janie Beverly as Herself
Based out of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Deadpit.com is the first internet horror talk podcast. It was started in 2005 by two long-time friends who just wanted to talk about horror with each other and other fans (with, of course, their own Kentucky-accented twang). Their first episode was primarily a takedown of everything they saw wrong with the genre in 2005. Since then, Deadpit’s grown to become one of the most popular horror podcasts, getting interviews with such icons as John Carpenter, George Romero, John Landis, Debbie Rochon, and Bob Clark. Along the way, they’ve also accomplished one of their other goals of getting studios and indies to send them free DVDs so they can review them and give honest, unfiltered opinions. As seen in the documentary, many of the celebrities they interview describe how genuine and kind they are and have nothing but praise for these two guys who love what they do.
It’s true that Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com is about the rise and growth of their podcast. However, the fact that it’s about much more than that is what makes it so great. You see, Into the Pit is also just as much about horror fandom and Vance and Frye themselves, out from behind their radio equipment.
The viewer meets their parents who come off as extremely likable and influential to them, showing an unmistakable pride in their children. Vance and Frye show us around Prestonsburg and Martin (where Frye grew up) and talk about video stores and movie theaters from their childhoods. Frye discusses the challenges of balancing the two loves of his life (Deadpit and getting his Masters in substance abuse counseling) and what will happen in the future if he has to choose between the two. The duo talk about the difficulty of living in a place where what they love (horror, metal, pro wrestling) is so diametrically opposite from their more religious, blue-collar surroundings. For instance, while they live in a primarily hunting community, Vance and Frye don’t like hunting or find a personal need to kill animals for sport. Some people who misguidedly think a Horror Freak must be violent and sick might be shocked by that.
This particular point is further shown in convention scenes. In my review of Best Worst Movie, I pointed out how negatively it seemed to portray conventions and convention attendees. Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com, on the other hand, is far more positive. Frye talks fondly about his first convention experience (a con I would experience a few years later, Horrorfind). They, and interview subjects such as a wonderful 
Betsy Palmer, talk about how great and loving the fans are. In fact, the only bad things any of them have to say about conventions are when Frye discusses growing tired of them not because he doesn’t like the fans but because of the “business” they’ve become over the time he’s been going to them, a sentiment I can fully agree with when seeing some autograph prices and poorly-handled conventions!
And that is probably the most important thing about this documentary: I saw myself in it. I saw probably the vast majority of Horror Freaks in it. Having a hobby and putting your heart and soul into it because it’s what you love to do. Going to conventions and feeling the camaraderie with like-minded fans. Having parents who, while they might not “get” horror, couldn’t be more proud of you regardless. Needing to balance your career with your sometimes equally or more important, hobby. Most of all, being different and unusual compared with your surroundings… and not really caring. The fact that this film is well-shot and put together is almost secondary to the pure and simple reality that this is one of the best encapsulations of what it means to be a horror fan I’ve ever seen.
Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com is absolutely a love letter to fans of the podcast (the interviews with listeners make that clear and are welcome). But more than that, the movie is a celebration of just being a horror fan, whether one serious enough to have a podcast, run a site, or write reviews… or just a guy who loves watching slasher flicks in his spare time. Regardless of what Deadpit’s future holds, it can be said that they know what the fans want because they are fans themselves.
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