Grade: D
Synopsis: A young woman survives a car accident, only to be haunted by strange visions.
Carnival of Souls takes only ten minutes to establish its premise (the car accident happens during the opening credits!). Unfortunately, once said premise is established, the plot dries out.
There’s atmosphere to spare here, and many of the scenes are genuinely creepy, but this movie feels like a Twilight Zone episode stretched way too long.
There’s simply no story. The strange visions start out creepy but, with no plot advancement, soon end up feeling repetitive, and the ending, while fitting, simply doesn’t pack enough of a payoff to make the previous 80 minutes worth it.
Bottom Line: Atmosphere alone doesn’t make a movie.
One Response on “Carnival of Souls (1962)”:
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Willy said:
A
This is a cult style movie with a huge following, and deservedly so. It was filmed in 1962 on a incredibly small budget. The viewer of this movie should not watch this film with the expectation of being entertained by todays standards, with gore and special effects, but see the film for its macabre, simple, and creepy moments. very enjoyable, and great cast. Good for a few laughs too—some funny lines.
