Carnival of Souls (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] [2017]

Carnival of Souls parades its illusory low budget chills in a daunting hall of mirrors. A dilapidated abandoned pavilion, once a soothing relaxation bathhouse before transformed into a picturesque dance hall and then an illuminated joyous carnival, presides over the desolate shores of the Great Salt Lake. The towering structure beckoning lost souls who precariously drive past its demeaning grandeur in the midst of fading twilight. One such individual is Mary Henry, a steely intellectual equipped with the talent of instrumentally harmonising church organs, whom recently survived a car accident where the vehicle plunged into a foreboding river. Miraculously, she’s the sole survivor, unable to recollect the traumatising event. Whilst moving to Salt Lake City, the sizeable pavilion calls out to her. The car radio receiving ominous organ music, as she envisions a ghoulish pale entity outside her vehicle. Haunted by this alluring figure, Mary experiences various inexplicable encounters that gradually deteriorates her sanity, preventing her from connecting with the new community surrounding her. For it is the carnival of souls that plagues her fragile mentality.Harvey’s sole feature credit as director, Carnival of Souls marked a colossal leap for the limitless potential found in independently financed horror. With a minuscule budget of just thirty-three thousand dollars, Harvey had no option but to enforce guerrilla filmmaking techniques. Notably including real locations, simplistic props and skeleton crews. It’s a necessary style for those who yearn to create art without the privilege of background funding. An indicator of passion for the medium of film, and it fundamentally presents itself in Harvey’s direction. The technical astuteness of various sequences, from the multitude of exquisite scene transitions to the simplicity of equipping the car passenger window with an angled mirror to impose the exterior ghoulish figure (simply known as “The Man”, whom Harvey played the role), adds an alluring charm. A charm that only a low-budget could intensify.Whilst the post-production is rampantly unpolished, with voiceovers engaged when actors aren’t visibly talking and Mary’s clomping heeled footwear resembling that of a trotting horse, it’s the locational filming that enhances the feature’s authenticity. Mary frantically fleeing her tormentor at a department store. The introductory drag race across the rickety bridge. A brisk process that forced Harvey to pay off locals to allow such filming to take place. The raw aesthetic provides a haunting magnetism, one that a Hollywood feature would fail to supply. A wondrous concoction of instinct and talent! Hilligoss’ central performance as the vulnerable yet strong-willed Mary was devilishly impressive, employing credible facial acting alongside her cognitive line delivery. Moore’s original organ score heightening the ambience of a spooky carnival, whilst alluding to the religious connotations that Harvey embeds as a thematic undertone. The story itself merging the planes of reality with the surrealist nature of the afterlife, a fragmented structure that would inspire several filmmakers including fellow surrealist Lynch.Harvey dabbles into the psychology of Mary, however due to the restricted runtime these were often overwrought with explanatory dialogue and loses that illusory style. Eventually culminating in a haunting conclusion (which was somewhat obvious...) that felt too rushed when Mary eventually confronts her nightmarish visions. The only other narrational criticism was with the parallels drawn between Mary’s frigidity and her obtrusive neighbour John whom haphazardly flirts with her whilst constantly consuming alcoholic beverages. The two are portrayed to be alike, despite the polar opposites in personality, yet there’s an irksome note that forcibly matches them together, likening frigidity to encroachment. It failed to bring much characterisation to either character, other than to highlight Mary’s already noticeable detachment to reality.Still, Harvey’s sole endeavour into feature filmmaking remains a prominent pillar for artistic integrity and atmospheric orchestration. Suitably spooky, chimerically chilling and sensationally surreal. It’s a story of macabre tendencies that, whilst unpolished, welcomes you to the illusory carnival of souls.

Had this been a recent movie, it would have received only two or three stars. But given its era, it gets a boost. I mention the date of its release purely because "Woman Hysterical - she must be crazy" is quite overdone and rather annoying. Furthermore, the whole "No means yes" attitude of the "guy next door" that's perceived to be "normal" and that in fact the woman is crazy for not swooning to the drunken advances, is not my cup of tea. But you have to appreciate the era and I know things were very different back then between the sexes. This is why it earned more stars for being dated! I also mention this as I know a few feminists who wrote scathing reviews for this film for the points I raised and I don't think it's fair to apply new world opinions to old world thinking.The story itself is fabulous, albeit predictable. There's a good chance you'll guess what's coming way before you get there. But nevertheless its execution is excellent and for saying pretty much no-one in the movie is an actor/actress, their performances are brilliant.If you like creepy old horror reminiscent of things like "Night of the Living Dead", then give this a watch.If you like campy, mindless, gory horror definitely look elsewhere!

If every low budget horror movie put this much of effort and love into their craft there would be no such thing as a bad horror movie with no money. Made for just $17,000 director Herk Harvey who also stars as the 'man' in the movie has pulled something very unique here. Carnival of Souls was of course a box office disaster and faded from memiry until the 70s and 80s where the movie was frequently shown on late night TV. I myself caught an original airing and was petrified of the movie. As an adult it can all be taken in and appreciated much more now.The imagery and nightmarish world that our character must go through to learn the truth of her fate is top class, and there are genuine creepy moments laden throughout the movie. The acting is very fair considering most 'actors' were just locales from the film set, but the movie works just fine. In fact countless horror movies have copied many scenes from this film, you end up losing count half way through.The one criticism towards the film could be that you know what's coming and the cards are dealt early on, but it's such an horrific and glorious encounter that you don't mind one bit. A very important horror movie for the genre.This review is from the Criterion 2 disc edition which has 2 versions of the movie, commentary, and a ton of extras with booklet so well worth getting over the other editions available.

I have had a black and white copy of this classic cult movie for a few years , and the picture quality was pretty poor to say the least, even though it was on dvd .to now find a copy digitally remastered and in colour for the first time , had me dancing round the room, also delivery time was very quick, also very reasonably priced.highly recommended for fans of this film.

Dated? Hardly at all. This is Lynchian before David Lynch and proves that money and special effects can't make up for a an imaginatively filmed tale. It shows that expense and effects probably detracts from a good film. This is a film simply and sparsely told with basic acting skills and the clever use of angles, light, shadow and soundtrack (although better synchronisation might have helped) to create an atmosphere and interest. it is a film that doesn't need quick shocks it builds its suspense and keeps you wondering whilst perched on the edge of your seat. Certainly a classic that can be watched again and again.