By MICHAEL GINGOLD
A Holy Grail for movie tie-in collectors is coming back into print.
Encyclopocalypse Publications will reissue TEDDY, the novelization by John Gault of the 1981 Canadian cult horror film THE PIT, on November 19. The book, originally published in Canada by Seal Books, went out of print decades ago and has been a coveted rarity for paperback-horror fans. The movie was directed by Lew Lehman and scripted by Ian A. Stuart; the synopsis of the book, which is more extreme and explicit in both its horrific and sexual material, is as follows: “Such a sweet little boy. Such a dear teddy. Why is everyone so afraid? Sandy isn’t afraid. She’s the babysitter. And she and Jamie are going to be great pals. But Sandy should never tell Jamie she loves him, not even teasing. Maybe most boys Jamie’s age don’t know much about sex…but Teddy does. And Jamie does whatever Teddy tells him.
“A bright smiling boy and his Teddy. The lure of evil. And a wave of sickening violence that sweeps the terrified town. What fiend in their midst could do such hideous things? Teddy knows…”
TEDDY is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers. Trivia note: THE PIT had its U.S. premiere 44 years ago tomorrow, on October 29, 1981, in Beaver Dam, WI, where it was filmed.
