Rating: 
Summary: She sees dead people.
Review: It was undoubtedly the low budget and no-name cast that kept this groundbreaking 1962 thriller off the radar for about 25 years. Only after a late 80's theatrical revival did audiences and critics begin to realize that "Carnival Of Souls" was a genre-defining entry in what we have come to think of as the "modern" horror film (well,a near photo-finish with "Psycho", at least!). Candace Hilligoss (who perhaps should have considered a stage name..."Candy Hill", anyone?) gives a memorably haunting performance as an existential church organist ("It's just a job to me") who emerges from a murky river hours after a seemingly fatal car wreck. Without giving too much away, let's just say Candace's "reality" proceeds to get even murkier as she aimlessly wanders a bleak Kansas landscape (hint: you'll soon begin to feel she's not in Kansas anymore!) This is the type of film that can be easily dismissed as laughable low-budget corn, or could inspire a 5,000-word Master's Thesis called "Stygian Symbolism in The New Frontier: God and Existentialism in German Expressionist/Bergman-Influenced American Horror Cinema of the Kennedy Era". At any rate, cognizant viewers will surely recognise the cinematic roots of "Siesta", "Jacob's Ladder", "The Shining" "The Sixth Sense", and even "Eraserhead" (the creepy and disturbing pipe organ soundtrack to "Carnival" had to have influenced Lynch). Pleasant dreams!
Rating:
Summary: Creepy!
Review: What is it about this film, that makes me want to watch it again and again? It can't be the special effects; they are laughable. It can't be the sound; the dubbing is the worst I've ever seen. It can't be stellar performances by all involved; some of the acting and dialogue are horribly corny.I think what makes this movie special, what has earned it a cult following, is that it traps the viewer within its own world, a claustrophobic, washed-out black and white world, a world on the edge of twilight heading inexorably toward an eternal darkness, a world where the heroine is slowly led to her doom, in spite of her desperate attempts to escape. Lots of horror movies try to create this feeling of "no exit" but most try to do it with silly fright gimmicks and fail miserably. This one uses a slowly constricting, strangely palid atmosphere centered on one character's increasingly odd experiences, eerie organ music, excellent cinematography, and an expressionistic landscape (a spider web shuddering on tree branches; a dark, abandoned carnival pavilion seen off on the horizon, a car pulled from a muddy river) to create a surrealistic sense of horror. Candace Hilligoss, who only made this and one other horror film, turns in a stunning performance reminiscent of Kim Novak in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo: distant, vulnerable, refined, yet repressed. It's exactly what was needed here, and it makes her one of the most memorable horror actresses ever, in my book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Criterion's best packages
Review: _Carnival of Souls_ may not be a true film classic (even its director, Herk Harvey, didn't count it among his best work), but it's one of a precious few American films from the early '60s that qualify as serious works of art. Extras abound on this 2-disc edition, but the most interesting of the lot pertain to the Centron Corporation, an ultra-low-budget production company in Lawrence, Kansas. Most of the crew for _Carnival of Souls_ (including Harvey himself) worked for Centron, which specialized in instructional films for public schools and corporations. As a Centron employee Harvey would eventually direct nearly 400 short films, a few of which are featured here. The DVD makes the persuasive argument that Harvey's ability to make the most out of extremely limited resources (as he did in _Carnival of Souls_) was a product of his many years as a director for Centron. It also draws attention to the cinematic technique that goes into effective educational filmmaking, no matter how low the budget. The 2-disc Criterion edition of _Carnival of Souls_ is a must-own for any cineaste who wants to examine the nuts and bolts of the filmmaker's craft. (That said, less devoted cineastes might prefer a rental.) It revives and preserves, in the best manner possible, an artful low-budget horror film with a devoted cult following. More importantly, it also brings attention to a long-neglected piece of American film history. Kudos to Criterion for their excellent efforts.
Rating: 
Summary: Mostly Poor
Review: The scenes with a circus and the church were fine, not great art, mind you, but fine. All the other scenes felt unneccessary, so there's no real pay off for the end. Get this as part of Total Movie's 40 Free DVD Subscription: insidedvd.com
Rating:
Summary: Unusual B movie worth seeing
Review: This is a cheaply made B movie that distinguishes itself for a number of reasons: 1) Some of the early scenes are very well framed and photographed and do remind you of Ingmar Bergman's films (this standard does not sustain itself for the rest of the movie, however), 2) The use of an organ score was probably an economic decision but it works well here, 3) the use of a real abandoned amusement park creates a set ideal for the story, 4) the movie moves slowly but gracefully to create atmosphere more than narrative, 5) The low brow romeo who tries to put the make on the heroine does a great character acting job that is nearly note perfect, 6) the movie lingers in your imagination long after it is over. Not a great film, but a find for those looking for the unusual, independent film that has been overlooked. I am sure this would be a very creepy film to show kids on Halloween night.
Rating:
Summary: How The Others and The Sixth Sense were born!!
Review: Let me just say that "Carinival Of Souls " is the begining of what we see today in the theatre culture..I don't want to give away the ending but just watch the movie and you will understand what I'm trying to get at.."Horror Hotel" was another great movie..The acting other than Christopher Lee was so so, but put that aside and you have one heck of a horror film..I grew up watching The Friday The 13th's, Halloween's. and The Nightmare On Elm Street movies..A part of me wishes I grew up watching these kind of movies.Because after watching the scarier movies of today it's kind of hard to be afraid of the great classics of yesterday.
Rating:
Summary: Once your inside, Your in for good.
Review: "Carnival of Souls" is simply unlike any other low buget horror/Fantasy I have ever seen as far as I know has ever been done before. Even though the very perfound plot to "Carnival of Souls"(which deals with death and the after life) has been done many times. This is the most original movie I have ever seen that deals with that kind of a subject matter, despite of dated eleaments. Carnival of Souls is stright to the point stroytelling, but as the film gose on you can really tell Writer John clifford and Producer/Director Herk Harvey had put tones of imagination into this movie. I highly suggest "Carnival of Souls" to any serious film buffs out there. As for the DVD?? I rented this awsome edition "Carnival of Souls" rather then buy it and like the Criterion disks I have veiewed before this one it was very good with very intresting supplaments to offer.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting cult classic.
Review: Although over-rated in recent years by some enthusiasts, this unusual horror film certainly deserves more attention than it received in its original release, which was zero. Director- producer Herk Harvey did a fine job of getting the most out of an ultra-low budget. The gloomy black & white photography is very effective, and location scenes of a deserted amusement park are put to good use. The cast of unknowns is mostly good, and the entire film has the effect of a vaguely disturbing bad dream, which is exactly what was intended.
Rating:
Summary: MAN! WHEW!
Review: This film's visual cinematography is STUNNING! Herk Harvey uses very subtle techniques to show when Candace Hilligoss enters a dimension beyond what we call reality. He UNDERSTATES all special effects and that means he was a VERY intelligent director who knew exactly what he was doing. It would have been easy to glob on the special effects (as most sci-fi, horror tripe do/did) but, to his credit, he did NOT give in to the Hollywood formula. He, himself as "The Man", is VERY spooky and creepy but, all in all, it IS a FUN genre flick. I just purchased the Criterion version and did not notice ANY of the supposed/proposed "flaws" in the film because I view all movies with the attitude of "Here I am... Entertain me as best you can!" and RIGHT from the start the photography blew me away. I'm REALLY happy that Herk Harvey, writer John Clifford and all the cast were able to take the accolades when the film was re-released in the theatres and Criterion has done it's usual AWESOME job on the DVD and supplement material!!
Rating:
Summary: PRICELESS
Review: I've been accused of watching too many of those corny monster flicks from the Fifties. Actually, I purchased from Amazon a new genre of monster flick from the early Sixties...two of them to be exact. Flick #1 - Carnival of Souls (1962)
Flick #2 - Horror Hotel (1960) For the incredible price ..., I purchased this DVD horror doubleheader that is literally priceless. No blood...no gore...no profanity...in explicit black and white...this duo of early horror films is a must. For the price of a rental, YOU TOO could own Carnival of Souls and Horror Hotel. So what makes them so good? They are true horror classics. Both are about places you would never want to go, but for some insane reason you go there anyway to set yourself up for a nightmare. Actually, "nightmare" is the best word for both films. They are shot, edited and scripted right from your dreams. "Carnival of Souls" has a perfect title. It is a horror classic from the pre-Beatles' era starring Candace Hilligoss as the lost soul. "Horror Hotel" stars British legend Christopher Lee (need I say more?). The fog, soundtrack, storyline, eery settings...and wonderful makeup, make both of these gems a MUST. I would pay $7 for each at an oldies matinee on the big screen...less the price of buttered popcorn. Are you a classic horror fan? No? Forget them!!! Yes? BUY THEM!!!
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