Review of Carnival of Souls (1962) by Freddie F — 14 Aug 2011

8.4/10.

"Carnival of Souls" is a spectacularly made horror film. It was released in 1962 and has been revived successfully by its cult audience, which is one that it deserves. The film was made on a low-budget much like several of the genre greats, and it's very possible that it works better now than it ever did then. It's even gotten the honor of being granted a release courtesy of The Criterion Collection; the people that specialize in giving classic films, or cult films that have an audience not filled with endless stupidity, another chance at life. They also tend to release art-house films; because they know their audience will appreciate films of that sort.

I like horror used as an art rather than a device for mere exploitation. "Carnival of Souls" is such a good horror films because it does indeed feel like an art-house production, but with real scares and real suspense. The black-and-white visuals are perfect (although I haven't seen the colorized version, I can't assume it improves on the film in any way), as those two colors tend to give anything a certain added layer of true beauty and mystery.

The story is absolute horror-genre gold. Mary (Candace Hilligos) is driving with her friends when some boys challenge the driver (of the car she is in, presumably it's a friend) to a drag race. Eventually, the race ends up on a bridge; and disaster strikes when the boys decide to give the protagonist's car a little bit of what some would call a "bump" or a "nudge". This unintentionally (or at least hopefully unintentionally) sends the car into the river. Mary survives; her other friends probably drowned.

We learn that Mary is a talented musician who fancies the organ. The unfortunate events that start the film out right have put a dent in her spirit; and she isn't able to put her "all" into her work. She travels to Salt Lake City to see if she can find new work, and she does; as an organist for a Church. However, it is also in this new city that Mary begins to see ghoulish beings staring at her from her car window, and following her all around; even in her new home.

There is one ghoul, in particular, who the film refers to as "The Man". He is played by Herk Harvey, who already has the physical appearance haunting enough for this sort of role, save for the fact that he's also accompanied by make-up that allows him to appear even more ghostly than before. He isn't the only ghost in the film; in fact, there are many ghosts. There seems to be a whole other realm within the film's universe where the ghastly creatures roam; and they particularly seem to enjoy the carnival scene. Most of them are the same in terms of the make-up that is applied to the face; although it's still creepy nonetheless. When you look at them from a shot set afar, it appears that they have almost hollow eyes!

There is no emotional value to be found here. The film inhabits a cold, very scary world; and in that sense, it knows that we can't care too, too much about its characters. We care, I suppose, because it's good acting all-around; but tragedy never truly comes into the equation, and most of the time, it's just straight horror, which is fine by me. I like my horror films suspenseful, with smart build-up, instead of gory and revolting. There are actually some good ideas and story-telling techniques going on here, as long as you can look past the sometimes flamboyantly ridiculous aspects (such as ghosts appearing in car windows) and observe the artistic intentions from an even closer angle.

The film does not make us think; it allows us to. It contains some radical imagery, some of it being very surreal, and it deserves the title of "classic", if only for its genre. I'm not sure if I would call it perfect, but there isn't anything particularly WRONG with it. "Carnival of Souls" takes much of what I like to see out of a horror film and gives it to me in a stylistic, visually impressive fashion. Perhaps the simplicity, and the fact that some narrative questions are never answered, are the filmmakers' way of making the film stick with the people watching it. It is a truly haunting, ghoulish experience, and it was made with enough efficiency to make it gripping, if only on an atmospheric level. But that's good enough for me.