Movie Review - Carnival of Souls (1962)

I don't normally watch sci fi films or horror flicks from the 50s or 60s, but a friend recommended this to me, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Carnival of Souls is a 1962 horror film. It is unrated but would be PG for mild terror and is appropriate for most audiences.

The Good

Cinematography. Whoever was behind the camera did an excellent job of making the most of every shot. Even though this was past the film noir era, many of the shots really took advantage of the darks and lights to create beautiful patterns.

Silent Passages. This film has long stretches of action with no sound with not only helps draw the viewer in, but also adds to the creepy factor.

Story. The story is nothing special, and the twist at the end was pretty obvious, but the story was still pretty solid and entertaining.

The Bad

50s Pacing. This is a 1962 film, but it's paced like a 50s TV show or film. For those who like that it isn't a problem, but it feels slow to someone who is used to more recent films.

50s Acting. The 50s and 60s weren't known for the best dialogue or acting, and this movie is no exception. The delivery of lines is a little stilted.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish there had been more to the story. I recognize this was a low budget flick, but the best way to make up for that is to spend more time working on a stronger story.

Overall

Carnival of Souls is a 1962 low-budget horror film. Whoever was behind the camera did an excellent job of making the most of every shot. Even though this was past the film noir era, many of the shots really took advantage of the darks and lights to create beautiful patterns. This film also features long stretches of action with no sound with not only helps draw the viewer in, but also adds to the creepy factor. The story is nothing special, and the twist at the end was pretty obvious, but the story was still pretty solid and entertaining. The pacing was a little slow compared to contemporary movies, and the acting and dialogue could have been a little stronger. If you enjoy films from this era, this is a solid flick. I give this film 3 out of 5 Boxes of Popcorn.