Review of Carnival of Souls (1962) by Timothy G — 14 Jul 2016

Nominally this is horror story about a woman who miraculously survives a horrific accident only to find herself increasingly alienated from humanity and increasingly losing touch with reality itself. It certainly works on this level, especially with the hauntingly brilliant organ score. This film doesn't so much terrify you as it does haunt you long after the final credits.

The brilliance of this movie, however, is that it can be viewed in many ways. For example, one can view it profitably as a parable about survivor's guilt. One could even see it as a prescient tale of social detachment in modern society.

This film is a staple in cheap horror movie collections. However, to get the best effect, get the Criterion Collection edition. They've totally remastered the original film, so you'll get a crisp, clear picture and a clean soundtrack.