Carnival of Souls (1962)

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Carnival of Souls (1962); An odd cult film 'fer sure
Topic Started: Mar 7 2007, 03:01 PM (354 Views)
WadeVC	Mar 7 2007, 03:01 PM Post #1
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 58 Group: Members Member #183 Joined: March 6, 2007	I have often times wondered if Carnival of Souls wasn't trying to capitalize on the fame of the Twilight Zone, as this low-budget horror has very many of the same elements found in TZ. Although the acting has somethihg to be desired, and the story jumps around a bit, there is something both creepy and uneasy about this film. The deaths of 3 girls who drown after their car plunges off a bridge sets the mood of this campy yet effective thriller. Although it does have its faults, the camera-work and use of shadows has an almost (using the term very lightly) Hitchcock-ness quality to it. If you watch this late at night with all the lights off, The Carnival of Souls does have some very creepy parts and can give you the willies, so to say. When you first watch this creepy flick, you may at first think what a wierd movie...kind of makes no sense...but you soon find yourself wanting to watch it again, and again, and again. Overall, a good, though odd, cult classic.
	There is nothning worse than aggresive stupidity.


panzer the great & terrible	Mar 7 2007, 03:34 PM Post #2
Mouth Breather Posts: 10,354 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	Count me out of the CARNIVAL OF SOULS cult. The movie has two effective sequences: the first, when Hilligloss first walks up the hill from the river, even though for some reason we never see her actually in the water, and the second, a brilliant one involving lights being turned off and on, seen from outside a house. Up to this point the movie's OK, but then the pace is completely thrown off by randomly-edited carnival footage with poorly made-up ghouls, or ghosts, or whatever they're supposed to be, who have nothing to do with the story. I saw this first run, hated it, and disliked it when I saw it again a couple of years ago. Would have made a decent hour-long TV show, but it's irritatingly padded. No clothes on this emperor.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


WadeVC	Mar 7 2007, 04:02 PM Post #3
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 58 Group: Members Member #183 Joined: March 6, 2007	panzer the great & terrible Mar 7 2007, 03:34 PM Count me out of the CARNIVAL OF SOULS cult. The movie has two effective sequences: the first, when Hilligloss first walks up the hill from the river, even though for some reason we never see her actually in the water, and the second, a tremendously effective one involving lights being turned off and on, seen from outside a house. Up to this point the movie's OK, but then the pace is completely thrown off by randomly-edited carnival footage with poorly made-up ghouls, or ghosts, or whatever they're supposed to be, who have nothing to do with the story. I saw this first run, hated it, and disliked it when I saw it again a couple of years ago. Would have made a decent hour-long TV show, but it's irritatingly padded. No clothes on this emperor. That's 'cause you have no clue what a good movie is pal! LOL Oddly enough, I have found that with Carnival of Souls it seems to go either one way or another...people either like it or they don't...not a whole lot of middle ground.
	There is nothning worse than aggresive stupidity.


Laughing Gravy	Mar 7 2007, 04:02 PM Post #4
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,073 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	I'm goin' with the Wadester on this one. I find the movie creepy, scary, and memorable. It so frightened my ex that she refused to watch it with me; she'd caught it on late night TV one night and never gotten over it. It shows what you can do with little budget but big ideas.



The Batman	Mar 7 2007, 06:15 PM Post #5
Charter Member Posts: 5,570 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	OK, looks like this thread will be the final push to get me to watch CARNIVAL OF SOULS. It is one of those (thousands of) movies I just haven't gotten around to seeing yet, but the polarizing opinions that are starting to form here, have definitely got me intrigued. My buddy has been hemming and hawing about picking up the Criterion disc, I will have to find a way to get him to make the plunge. No point in blowing my own dough on this 50-50 proposition. If I like it enough, I can always pick up my own copy later. Brilliant plan, old chum.



Johnny Sokko	Mar 20 2007, 11:34 AM Post #6
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 67 Group: Members Member #134 Joined: September 20, 2006	Yes indeed , "Carnival of Souls" is indeed a masterpiece. The "Criterion" version is a flawless print.



Inspector Carr	Mar 20 2007, 02:56 PM Post #7
Charter Member Posts: 2,787 Group: Members Member #48 Joined: September 14, 2005	I remember seeing the trailer on TV back in 1962 and the scene with the dead ones chasing her through the abandoned dance hall has stuck with me for many years.... In a twist of fate I was perusing the previously viewed DVD section at a local Blockbuster and found the Criterion double disc for only 7.99 and who says miracles don't happen....
	"Reality is for people who can't handle alcohol"


The B-Man	Mar 20 2007, 03:06 PM Post #8
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 178 Group: Members Member #146 Joined: November 11, 2006	I first saw this movie when I was 12 on the Late night movie. Boring. I watched it again about 20 years later. Boring. Watched it a couple mos ago from a multi horror pack on a Sunday morning with my coffee. I fell asleep. No creeps,no chills,just a nice little nappy.



The Batman	Mar 20 2007, 05:33 PM Post #9
Charter Member Posts: 5,570 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	Yep, some polarizing opinions. I gotta convince my buddy to buy this one, when we are at the DVD store tomorrow.



Brother Voodoo	Nov 26 2007, 07:47 PM Post #10
Balcony Baby Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #308 Joined: November 22, 2007	The Batman Mar 20 2007, 05:33 PM Yep, some polarizing opinions. I gotta convince my buddy to buy this one, when we are at the DVD store tomorrow. Already done, Bats. Great movie, too.



The Batman	Nov 26 2007, 07:54 PM Post #11
Charter Member Posts: 5,570 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	Brother Voodoo Nov 26 2007, 11:47 PM The Batman Mar 20 2007, 05:33 PM Yep, some polarizing opinions. I gotta convince my buddy to buy this one, when we are at the DVD store tomorrow. Already done, Bats. Great movie, too. Gotta remember to borrow that one, Bro, the next time I stop by.



Chandu	Dec 2 2007, 06:58 PM Post #12
Knowledge Seeker and rascal at large Posts: 10,276 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	Found this for a buck at my local dollar store today. For that price, I'll take a look, myself.
	Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog. It's just little ol' me...


The Batman	May 29 2009, 12:36 PM Post #13
Charter Member Posts: 5,570 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	I still haven't seen this movie. Gotta remember to borrow it...


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