Classic Film : Carnival of Souls (1962)

Carnival of Souls (1962)



"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I love that one



Are you okay?

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I missed this in 1962 and heard so much about it from others over the years that I was a little underwhelmed when I finally saw it on dvd.

Too much hype can be death to a movie, particularly one as special as this. It really took a couple of tries, each one better than the last, to fully appreciate Herk Harvey's eerie opus.

Candice Hilligoss was 27 years old when she made this film, having appeared in several shows in Pennsylvania and New York. She danced as one of the world-famous Copa Girls at the famous Copacabana.

She is a unique presence in her restrained performance, beautiful and enigmatic. She should have had a long and prolific career, but the IMDb only gives her 6 credits between 1962 and 2019, with long stretches of inactivity between. Apart from Carnival of Souls, I've only seen her in The Curse of the Living Corpse, notable as Roy Scheider's film debut, otherwise a rather flat murder mystery with supernatural overtones. Hilligoss is wasted in a minor role.

And This, Too, Shall Pass Away

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

👍

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Splendidly spooky film. I own the terrific Criterion release for this one.

Yes, this is really me.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Odd.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

It is odd, but strangely compelling.
And now, I believe I'll go watch it.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

It also looks kind of stilted.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Stilted

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Yes, stilted.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Still not sure of what you mean by that, or how it applies to this low budget horror flick, but I'm curious.
I'm not being defensive or anything like that because this movie isn't that great.
I do like it though, just because it's so cheap. I can understand it's appeal and why it has a cult following.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Yes, stilted.

Stilted: stiff, wooden, forced, unnatural, affected, labored.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Yes, stilted.

😎👍 ok…. I gotcha now.
Not the word I would have chosen, but I respect you and and am tickled that you took the time to contribute to this thread.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Yes, stilted.

I'm glad I could tickle you.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Yes, stilted.



You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Yes, stilted.

Don't tell hubby.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Yes, stilted.

But I tell him everything.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Yes, stilted.

Rot row.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Yes, stilted.

A bit stilted behind that couch…

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Yes, stilted.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Interesting

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I watched it from beginning to end and found it utterly forgettable.

I couldn't describe one scene in it if my life depended on it.

Handsome Latino

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I think the movie may appear to be overhyped to some degree, but in my opinion, that's mostly due to the cult following it's obtained over time.

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

LAwrence, KNsas

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Yes, indeed, filmed at an old industrial and education film production studio there, which is now, as I'm sure you know, the KU film department. (I've spent some time in Lawrence and think it's a pretty terrific town.)

Anyway, I saw this film a few years a go for the first time and thought it was much better than I would have anticipated. Not great, but good, and quite interesting. One of those indies back in the day that fell into a cult following. An FYI: the assistant director, Reza Badiyi, went on to a very successful career in Hollywood as a TV director and, coincidentally, stepfather to Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

This movie was partially filmed in my town!!!!

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962) & Lawrence, Kansas

Yes, indeed, filmed at an old industrial and education film production studio there, which is now, as I'm sure you know, the KU film department. (I've spent some time in Lawrence and think it's a pretty terrific town.)

Anyway, I saw this film a few years a go for the first time and thought it was much better than I would have anticipated. Not great, but good, and quite interesting. One of those indies back in the day that fell into an enduring cult following. An FYI: the assistant director, Reza Badiyi, went on to a very successful career in Hollywood as a TV director and, coincidentally, became the stepfather to Jennifer Jason Leigh.

@lilith

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962) & Lawrence, Kansas

I live in Lawrence!

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

Say hi to it for me. I really like it a lot. Lots of artistic things going on there and a real sense of community, which I think is so valuable. Also, the place where one of my great inspirations, playwright William Inge, attended college. KU's drama school theatre is called the William Inge Theatre, if I'm not mistaken. Anyway, say hi to it for me. A little part of me has always wished that I could live there.

Lawrence, Kansas

Where do you normally reside? I would like to move away. Lawrence is an OK town i've just been here for too damn long. I didn't go to KU, i'm a townie, so i've been here for fucking ever and I just want to see the world and stuff.

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

The main thing I like about this area is that I have a reasonable excuse to root for the Kansas City Chiefs who happen to be the best fashionable NFL team right now, so being the regional team is kind of cool.

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

Not a fan of the use of the "f" word, just so you know.

That said, I live in Los Angeles. I work in the business and have to be here, though I would prefer the village life (one of the reasons I like Lawrence). But I can understand your desire to get out and see the world, so I would advise you to do it, once the pandemic subsides. Have to stay safe for now. 😕

Lawrence, Kansas

I apologize for my use of poor language. Lawrence is not exactly a village though. 95,000 people which I know is small potatoes for LA but by kansas standards it is pretty big.

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

Thanks, I appreciate that. And you're right - I forgot that the last time I was in Lawrence it had grown a quite lot, working its way towards Topeka. I first started visiting in 1980, and then it was still a pretty small town. Oh, I hate that. 95,000? Wow!

Anyway, I hope you're able to get out and see the world when things calm down. You may find you like a bigger canvas for your life, or, like me, you may decide you prefer the small-town life.

Lawrence, Kansas

I have no idea if that includes the normal University population which would be around 25,000.

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

I definitely don't ever want to live in a huge city. I've even had nightmares based in LA and NY. I'm a shy introvert, so too many people just means more trouble.

….out of darkness, out of mind, cast down into the Halls of the Blind!

Lawrence, Kansas

Well, when the time comes you'll figure it out. It may be that in the end a smaller town might be the best choice. Hard for me to say, but I wish you good luck in your journey.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962) & Lawrence, Kansas

That's why I think the movie has garnered more of a cult status and cult following, rather than really making it on the big screen. Yet it seems pretty much everyone knows of this movie. That speaks volumes.

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

The least interesting actors in film history. Boring!

https://youtu.be/iPUwtyZglQI

https://youtu.be/QRTNm6GLJYI

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

Director Herk Harvey went on to make this classic work safety educational doc.



Yes, this is really me.

Re: Carnival of Souls (1962)

What's with that itty bitty moustache?

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White
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