Review of Carnival of Souls (1962) by Ryan M — 09 Apr 2011

An interesting mix of typical and unique. Harvey seems to ask the viewer immediately to accept that he's playing by certain well-known generic rules, but then he surprises you with surrealistic flourishes and a bit of hard-hitting dialogue.

Hilligoss' desperate brushes with the reality of her situation are definitely the most thrilling thing this movie has to offer... The sequences at the carnival are like twisted takes on the seaside-dreaminess of Fellini's 'I Vitelloni'.

Also the use of the water-filter as a formal device is genius. Polanski's 'Repulsion' is a more mature and focused study of female sexual inhibition, but this movie asks for less seriousness from its viewers and still delivers emotionally to anyone who can immerse himself in it, predictable ending and all.

The fantastic organ score also pushes this movie up another notch on the underrated scale. Very artful and delightfully spooky.