Rating: 
Summary: Only Criterion does them THIS well
Review: Is there ANY fan of science fiction or horror movies who grew up in the 60's and *doesn't* remember this midnight snack? The odd thing to me is that someone at Criterion seems to have the same taste in odd genre movies from the 50's as I do - and anyone ensuring that movies like this, and even more especially "Carnival of Souls", deserves a round of applause. (Let's face it, this movie used to be found in the "Drive In Flicks" section of the rental places if they even HAD it.)The video quality is as good as we can expect. It is certainly sharper and brighter than other recent presentations of the film, but unfortunately, there ARE sequences where the scratches and wear obviously could not be spirited away digitally. I sincerely doubt that any fan of the movie will mind; this isn't Bergman or Fellini we're talking about! (In the opening scene, an Air Force office is suggesting to his fellow officer that perhaps "sleep would be better than all the benzedrine you're taking." The other fellow proceeds to slam down another few bennies....only in the movies, folks!) The extras include trailers from several other movies produced by Gordon, stills, production notes, and a full-length commentary by Gordon (executive producer) with Bruce Eder. There's a LOT of discussion about American actors in England, aiming for the American market, working with the German special effects duo, and even some very interesting background on the original "Weird Tales" story that was the basis for the film. Unfortunately, this is less a "commentary" than an interview - the discussion between the two is interesting, but almost NEVER has anything to do with what is happening in the movie, and frankly I can't recommend trying to watch the flick while listening to this track. This is quite a bit different from ANY other "commentary" I've come across, and I thought it really needed to be mentioned. Once again, Criterion has set a gold standard for quality and value in a release. Oh, HOW I wish they could release Wise's "The Haunting"....
Rating: 
Summary: "Magnificently Grotesque"
Review: Jeff Shannon sums up my feelings with those 2 words, but if you enjoy reading shameless praise and rantings feel free to continue: This film, which I first saw when I was about 8 (back when they actually had things like triple-features in theatres), is just about the creepiest thing I've seen TO DATE. I'm not talking gore here (which it has in abundance and works great in B&W): I'm talking 'nightmare quality' story and cinematography. I saw this available in Criterion format and knew it was time to buy. Now you might think I'm squemish, going all sissy over a 50's B&W British horror film - almost a misnomer in and of itself!
But I'm here to tell you I found and continue to find this film more chilling than 'Dawn of the Dead', 'Maniac', 'The Thing' (both versions) or any Lucio Fulci gorefest. Why?
Everything was just right, from the stop-motion of the brains slithering across the lab floor to the diharettic sounds of blood burping from thier perforated corpses. Eeeeesh. I get chills just thinking about it. Not that it will stop me from watching it again this weekend...
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty darn scary!
Review: Little-known '50's b&w science fiction/horror film about materialized brains that snack on people. The brains are pretty gruesome looking; they trail spinal chords and scrunch along on the ground to the strains of some rather chilling music. Good specials effects for the time, and the ending is memorable! I've seen kids who said, "Turn this off!" The brains certainly aren't something you would want to see in your dreams.
Rating:
Summary: I created a fiend!
Review: oh boy, is this one priceless! A christmas present from my dear old ma, i SHook my head in disbelief upon opening. This was not the lord of the rings-two towers extended version I had requested. "give it a chance" she said.
So i put it on and to my suprise, i loved it! this isn't going to scare you. But thats ok, In fact, when the fiends became visible and attacked, i laughed myself silly! But the ideas were there. This could be re-made into a real chiller nowadays with the new technology. But it just wouldnt be the same.
So what happens? Invisible fiends attack citizens of a small town. The bodies are found missing their brain and spinal cord. What creatures could do such a thing! Whos responsible, dammit!
Lo, i shan't tell.
Gore-we get old school ketchup in this one. Back in the days, i can see this could have caused some controversy. Brains get shot, brains implode. Brains melt.
T&A- naked brains everywhere.
So how bout the transfer? Well i never saw this on Tv or vhs so i can't say for sure how good it was but for an old black and white film, it looked unusualy clear. Some specks and film lines from time to time but overall, the print looks good.
We even have special features on this one! someone was actualyl proud of this ditty and rightly so! We get a commentary from the producer. We also get some old ad pics and posters and some stills.
Rating:
Summary: I created a fiend!
Review: oh boy, is this one priceless! A christmas present from my dear old ma, i SHook my head in disbelief upon opening. This was not the lord of the rings-two towers extended version I had requested. "give it a chance" she said.
So i put it on and to my suprise, i loved it! this isn't going to scare you. But thats ok, In fact, when the fiends became visible and attacked, i laughed myself silly! But the ideas were there. This could be re-made into a real chiller nowadays with the new technology. But it just wouldnt be the same.
So what happens? Invisible fiends attack citizens of a small town. The bodies are found missing their brain and spinal cord. What creatures could do such a thing! Whos responsible, dammit!
Lo, i shan't tell.
Gore-we get old school ketchup in this one. Back in the days, i can see this could have caused some controversy. Brains get shot, brains implode. Brains melt.
T&A- naked brains everywhere.
So how bout the transfer? Well i never saw this on Tv or vhs so i can't say for sure how good it was but for an old black and white film, it looked unusualy clear. Some specks and film lines from time to time but overall, the print looks good.
We even have special features on this one! someone was actualyl proud of this ditty and rightly so! We get a commentary from the producer. We also get some old ad pics and posters and some stills.
Rating:
Summary: You are what you eat!
Review: The brains and spinal cords are being sucked out of helpless human beings by an invisible entity that seems to feed off the atomic energy generated from a military airbase. The brass is taking heat for the murders and puts dashing Major Cummings in charge of the investigation, ultimately leading him straight into the arms of Barbara, an attractive research assistant. It turns out that Barbara's boss, the semi-maniacal Professor Walgate was involved in "thought materialization" experiments designed to free thought completely from consciousness (gives freedom of thought a whole new meaning!). In order to accomplish this task, large amounts of power are needed, alas the tie-in to the military airbase. With this power, Professor Walgate began to "devise a being into which the thought once realized could enter and preserve itself for all humanity" - or at least in order to kill all humanity! Unfortunately, Walgate's success unwittingly unleashes a "fiend" or "mental vampire" that feeds off the nervous centers of those it kills. Excellent "stop-motion" special effects create truly memorable "fiends" that were literally "ahead" of their time and whose physical appearence give credence to the slogan "you are what you eat"!
Rating:
Summary: fiend without a face
Review: This is a B-movie that was made when they were making horror films about everything. They would have to be to make a movie about creatures that are a brain and spinal cord moving around like a snake, invisible at first. But hey, this film is still alot of fun to watch and a must for any fan of horror movies of that era, don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent classic British sci-fi/horror
Review: This is an excellent movie for anyone who's a fan of movies such as "Night of the Living Dead". Released about 10 years earlier and a product of the British sci-fi/horror period of the late 50's, the special effects are excellent for its time. Kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the movie and had a very interesting (albeit rather unrealistic) plot. The ending was perhaps one of the best parts of the film, so it's definitely not a letdown, and at 74 minutes of length, the movie definitely does not drag. Some nice death scenes in this one too, and the acting is actually decent. If you're a fan of this genre, this is DEFINITELY worth owning. Criterion really packs in the special features too, as usual. Digitally remastered - picture and sound quality are outstanding given the age of the film.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent classic British sci-fi/horror
Review: This is an excellent movie for anyone who's a fan of movies such as "Night of the Living Dead". Released about 10 years earlier and a product of the British sci-fi/horror period of the late 50's, the special effects are excellent for its time. Kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the movie and had a very interesting (albeit rather unrealistic) plot. The ending was perhaps one of the best parts of the film, so it's definitely not a letdown, and at 74 minutes of length, the movie definitely does not drag. Some nice death scenes in this one too, and the acting is actually decent. If you're a fan of this genre, this is DEFINITELY worth owning. Criterion really packs in the special features too, as usual. Digitally remastered - picture and sound quality are outstanding given the age of the film.
Rating:
Summary: WHOA!
Review: This is one great, cheesy film! It has a fine, logical plot that makes as much sense as any 50s era , low-budget, sf movie can generate. The performances are uniformly good, the direction is top-notch, the photography is imaginative, and the monsters are as well-realized as one could hope! When I was a kid, this film scared the high-Holy Hell out of me, and it remains an effective horror film for me now.
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