Carnival of Souls/Horror Hotel

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Summary: Essential Cult Classic finally gets deserved treatment!
Review: This is one of those lost classics that deserves far greater exposure than it has thus far received. Made in the early 60's, it is an eerie tale of a woman caught between a "no mans land" somewhere between life and death. The film evokes memories of David Lynch's work and that of George Romero. Clearly the two directors have been influenced by this midnight classic. The film borders on surrealism especially in scenes where the madness begins to close in on our heroine in the most unlikely places. Herk Harvey never directed another feature, preferring a life making "industrial" films, but this effort ranks as a horror masterpiece. Thanks be to Criterion for releasing this classic....and doing so in both versions. What a mouthwatering prospect this disc is. Let that organ play on.....!

Rating:
Summary: Lo-budget classic
Review: A masterpiece of low budget cinema - allegedy an inspiration to David Lynch for Eraserhead and Romero for Night of the Living Dead. I'm not sure if that's true but it certainly has similarities. I totally enjoyed this film, spooky, wierd and dreamy.

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Summary: Creepy to say the least.
Review: I really like this movie. I was not sure why at first, but I am now: It is very creepy. Its ultra shoestring budget atmosphere and the appearance of the zombies in the film are truly frightening. Watch this movie with the lights out in total darkness, and you'll get goosebumps, as the dead pursue poor Candice Hilligoss thruout the course of a few days. BEWARE THE REMAKE!!!! The remake is a mockery of the original and the filmmakers should be ashamed to let this excellent film be exploited.

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Summary: Forget Psycho, Forget The Exorcist; This is FREAKY!
Review: I'm a hard-core, die-hard Horror fan and I'm one that's hard to scare when it comes to movies. I've seen them all; The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Shining but I havn't really got any chills out of them. Even though Carnival of Souls is made on a shoe-string budget it is a real chiller. It's frightning because it's nothing like any of today's lame teeny-bopper slasher films, it's an eerie film that really brings out our greatest fears such as weird people standing around staring you in the eye. The fantastic, eerie soundtrack also brings out the chicken in you. Pure brilliance. Watch it with the lights off.

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Summary: Good classic time waister!!!
Review: I am not going to lie! This movie is atrociously acted with even worse dialogue but somehow engrossing, with wierd settings and characters. Not very good but not that bad either!

Rating:
Summary: one of the all-time greats
Review: one of the best horrow films ever made, this one can give you nightmares. made on a small budget, the story will give you the creeps and stay with you. highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Arguably one of the most frightening movies of all time.
Review: If only film production companies could learn from a low-budget masterpiece like this one. Without shedding a drop of blood or showing a single moment of superfluous gore, this claustrophobic little film plays with the heroine and the audience. We question our perception of reality, of morality and of fear. A ghost story in the true sense, the cheap production actually adds to the surreal atmosphere. A keeper--never to be watched by underage kiddies, alone, or when you are depressed!

Rating:
Summary: One of the most chilling movies I have ever seen!
Review: I saw this movie as a child on a show called Creature Feature back in the mid 70's and I must say it almost did what only one other movie did to me(Night of the Living Dead: the greatest horror movie of all time...That's a another story).

Rating:
Summary: The Only Movie That Has Given Me Nightmares
Review: Carnival of Souls has haunted since the first time I saw it at 2 a.m. on TV. This is one of the rare movies that some how creates a world of its own. You are brought into a paranoid world, where death stalks you. You are always waiting for another ghoul to show up. The most brillant parts of this movie completely suspend you from all reality. You have the feeling that you have been completely shut off from the world. The horror of it comes from that lack of reality. The first time I saw this movie, I had nightmares that I was lost in the same way Mary was. No one could hear or see me. I have seen this movie many times, and it's power hasn't diminished. Next to Hitchcock's "Physco," this is my favorite horror film.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most terrifying horror films of all time!
Review: I first saw this movie on the old 'Creature Feature' show back in 1978. It sent tingles up and down my spine. It returned to TV later that year as part of a late night double-feature with 'Night of the Living Dead'. I was able to watch '...the Living Dead', but I didn't have the heart to watch 'Carnival of Souls' after it. This is a genuine, all-out scary movie. And low-budget too! That's what made it scary and atmospheric. If Herk Harvey had big studio backing and access to large amounts of cash, the finished movie wouldn't have been half as scary as it is. Just look at the 1998 remake! It can't hold a candle to the original! 'Carnival of Souls' ranks up there with 'Night of the Living Dead' and 'The Exorcist' as an all-time Horror classic! I dare anyone to sit and watch it alone and in the dark.