Rating: 
Summary: Original For Its' Time...But Doesn't Age Well
Review: I can appreciate the innovative cinematography and direction. Very theatrical and moody. For 1962, Carnival of Souls is certainly a groundbreaking film. However by today's standards this movie seems quaint at best, cornball at the worst. With over-acting reminiscent of the 60's Batman television series and a plot that now seems extremely cliched, I found myself chuckling more often than being frightened. If Rod Serling had been at the helm this may have aged more gracefully. Rather than using subtley this movie pounds you in the head with predictable plot twists and obvious foreshadowing. Night of the Living Dead is an excellent example of the right way to make an atmospheric and creepy movie on a shoestring budget. I'd suggest watching that or a good Twilight Zone rerun instead. Carnival of Souls is worth the price of a rental for film students only.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most hauntingly sinister horror films ever made.
Review: This film could stand as proof that style and imagination are more important than money and special effects. Though made on a shoestring budget, this is one of the most eerie and haunting films I've ever come across, the kind of horror movie which really does leave a lasting impression.Out of three women involved in a car accident, only one survives. After managing to recover and start a new life in the city, the survivor begins to find herself 'cut off' from the world, sometimes finds nobody can see or hear her. These are scenes anybody who has ever felt alienated from society or lost in the world can easily identify with. The film is a wealth of unnerving images, such as the abandoned amusements park and dance hall. Another memorable aspect of the film is the dark-suited, deathly-faced phantom who seems to lurk in every shadow. Somehow I found him a far more sinister and unnerving presence than Freddy or Jason. It must be the power of the imagination - the psychological threat of danger, what might happen, is far more terrifying than simple acts of blood-letting or violence. All in all, this film is everything a horror film should be - filled with haunting images, a sympathetic central character and a clever, thought-provoking storyline.
Rating:
Summary: Dark, thought-provoking and hauntingly bizarre.
Review: After a game of drag-racing across a bridge, a car containing three women plunges into deep water and sinks, only one of its occupants apparently surviving. From then on the survivor finds herself cut off from the rest of the world. The scenes in which she is ignored by everybody around her are marvellously eerie. Imagine not knowing you've died, walking around as a ghost and being unable to understand why nobody can see or hear you. An all-time classic, this is living proof that imagination and style are more important in films than money and special effects. The scenery is wonderfully sinister and the abandoned funfair provides a powerful image. Also noteworthy is Harvey's dark-suited ghoul, who, with his menacingly calm intent and glinting-eyed smile, dominates his every scene and is a far more nightmarish figure than the likes of Freddy and Jason. The soundtrack, consisting of organ music, is suitably atmospheric, and the whole thing has a very artistic feel to it, very surreal. Images from this film really do haunt you.
Rating:
Summary: A film with a place in history
Review: In 1962 when this film was released, it caused enough stir that theatre managers had to offer a disclaimer: no refunds. Seems they were afraid that the ground-breakingly spooky, "psychological" plot would frighten the weak at heart enough to make them leave the theatre. I'll tell you, though, for a Gen-X viewer in the year 2000 the refund would have been for a different reason. To today's viewer, this film is just plain boring. I found myself watching the film through to its end (not too painful, at only 84 minutes) simply because I was hoping some shocking ending would make it all worth while. (The ending, in 1962, WAS a shocker. But don't expect anything you won't have guessed well in advance.) If you have an interest in cinematics--makeup, lighting, framing, and other film/theatric techniques--then you may get enough out of this movie to make it worth a purchase. But do yourself a favor and buy the cheap version. The Criterion Collection DVD package, for a whopping $40 retail, offers a Kansas TV station's sentimental, low-budget documentary of the film cast's 27-year reunion, at which they reminisce about how young they were back then, how cold the water was in the river, and how hard it was putting on their own makeup for the film. These are the sorts of reunions I make up excuses not to attend. Some films can only be appreciated in light of their place in history. Unfortunately, Carnival of Souls is one of these.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Gem!
Review: I rented Carnival of the Souls about 5 years ago on a raggedy old VHS tape, not knowing what it was at all, and I thought it was great, definatly weird! Now we have a Criterion DVD that has a near Perfect Transfer! Carnival of Souls is a Horror film where dark, eerie atmosphere is the key ingredient to it's success, helped along by haunting organ music, and some unusual settings. It moves at a very deliberate pace, building up to it's strange finale. There is little, if any gore. This was a cheaply made film, but then again, so was Night of the Living Dead, which borrows quite a bit from this film. Why is this one relatively unknown? Lack of Advertising dollars! It will probably not scare you as much as leave you feeling uncomfortable or chilled. Acting in the film by Candace Hilligoss is great, considering what her role required. The extras are fantastic, the only one I didn't care for was the Mental Hygiene portion, but I even liked some of that. I would recommend watching the Director's cut first. I started this at 10:00 P.M. and finished about 3:30 A.M., this DVD is Packed!
Rating: 
Summary: TERRIBLE VHS TREATMENT OF CLASSIC FILM!
Review: This is one of the worst quality videos I have ever seen. The image is so awful I felt like I was watching a bootleg tape of this classic motion picture. The sound is also terrible. I own the Criterion DVD and comparing this version of the film to that one is like comparing the Mona Lisa to road kill. Do yourself a favor and go buy a DVD player just to be able to watch the Criterion version!
Rating:
Summary: A B-film that actually works
Review: Carnival of Souls is an old B-film that you might have seen on old Saturday night horror shows. As Herk Harvey (the director) said, this film was shot on a budget that wouldn't have sustained the opening moments of Back To The Future. However, this film is able to sustain a creepy and oppressive atmosphere throughout, and that is the major achievement. Even though I knew when every "scary" moment was coming, and I guessed the ending 20 minutes before the film actually ended, that knowledge didn't ruin it for me. That's how strong the movie is, that you can enjoy the film even if you knew everything about it. The acting is stiff and the dialogue is often stilted, but that just adds to the strange and dark atmosphere of the film. And the Criterion release is a real gem. Two discs, the first has the theatrical release of the film, and the second has the director's cut. The film looks incredible. I've yet to see such an old and cheaply made movie look so good. And the extras are also great. Documentaries, outtakes, interviews, and oh, that organ music. If you're a fan of horror, you must own this film. If you're a film buff, you must own it. If you're a DVD afficionado, you must own it. If you're just looking for a good movie to watch on a Saturday night, then please, choose this one. It delivers.
Rating:
Summary: shoestring budget masterpiece
Review: i've seen people being eaten by various species of animals or aliens and being mutilated by psychos and thrillkillers since i was just a wee tyke, but this low budget masterpiece of suggested horror is one of only a handful of horror films which have actually scared me. that first glimpse of actor/director Herk Harvey standing in the middle of the road is worth a million shower slayings. the inspiration for Night of the Living Dead and Jacob's Ladder (just to name a few) this film is not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: IN A REALM ALL ITS OWN.
Review: Obviously shot on a small budget with unknown players, this ingenious film has an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere, and fans of off-beat chillers should find it an enjoyable, weirdly satisfying venture. Hilligoss survives a car accident and gets herself a position as an organist at a local church; however she is noticed by others to be other-worldly and unaccountably strange..............The acting is somewhat lethargic at times and the soundtrack varies in quality, yet many scenes, - particularly the ones shot at the abondoned amusement arena - are scary and linger in the memory. There was a film I once saw years ago on late night telly in which the plot was similar: Two friends (a young man and woman) get out of a car wreck in the English countryside and find an old empty house in which they see phantom visions of another time; when they get back to their car........The title? VISIONS (1973) It's a great companion piece!!
Rating: 
Summary: Inspired horror
Review: Well, there's no denying you'll see the "surprise" ending coming within the first two minutes, but it hardly matters. Carnival of Souls is one of the best horror films ever. It's nightmarishly surreal and will get under your skin the way few horror films do. It's a shining example of what can be achieved on a very limited budget by talented filmmakers with vision and imagination. What a crying shame that director Herk Harvey never made another feature.
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