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Carnival of Souls may not be a personal favourite or a masterpiece, but it is an incredibly effective film and was an inspiration for many film-makers.
While Carnival of Souls generally doesn't look too bad, especially for the budget it had, there is an occasional crude and grainy look. The story is in places a little too thin and simple, with an abrupt ending with not much signs of a pay-off, and, with the exception of creepy Herk Harvey and especially touchingly vulnerable Candace Hilligoss (who allows one to completely identify with her even with just a telling glance), the acting is not that great with some of the minor players looking as if they weren't sure what to do with themselves.
The setting is beautifully realised however, being both dream-like and appropriately nightmarish and there is some very inventive and atmospheric(like being part of a surreal dream) photography that is somewhat reminiscent of Val Lewton's style. The organ music is incredibly spooky, and doesn't feel overused or too intrusive at all, instead it adds to the atmosphere. The story may not feel like there is much to it, but it is elevated significantly by its atmosphere.
Because where Carnival of Souls most succeeds is how it works amazingly as an atmosphere and mood piece. Throughout there is a genuinely eerie and nail-bitingly creepy quality, and as a shocker Carnival of Souls is legendary for a reason, the shocks delivered so unexpectedly and chillingly, with no signs of cheapness, in a way that few modern horrors today have managed to accomplish. It goes at a nice pace and doesn't ever feel dull, and Harvey's directing is credible, especially in how he managed to maintain such a great sense of mood and dread without being forced or cheap and there is some decent technical skill here. The characters are not the most well-developed but neither do they detract from the story either, heroine Mary is actually surprisingly easy to relate to.
Overall, far from a flawless film, but even with its limitations still manages to be an eerily effective and entertaining film that still shocks today and has influenced many. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox
