It's been many days and just as many nights since I had first seen Carnival of Souls. Granted, when I say many days and nights, that would be reflective of about a year's time, which is many days and nights if you think about it. Either way, it's been a while since I've seen it, and within that while there have been plenty of times where I thought of just how fantastically eerie the film is.
Its low budget and cheapness collide with skillful craftsmanship to perfectly balance an incredibly moody piece of cinema. From start to finish, Carnival of Souls is drenched in dread and despair. The muted black and white that's so soft you can almost feel its texture, the stark cinematography overlaid by the fantastically dreary organ score, and of course, the character of Mary, who walks around with an emptiness only known by that of someone that is without an internal identity, someone without a soul.
To not belong in the world is one thing, but to be aware that you do not belong is a devastation only left for the haunted.
May you never be so unlucky.
I love this scene - so eerie and atmospheric. Sums up the film, and its themes perfectly. Carnival of Souls is such a great little film - so much more going on in it than the twist ending. Some of the images in this clip alone are so startling! Like when those creepy cadavers rise up out of the water, and all those lonely shots of the dilapidated pavillion. Wonder if Romero ever saw this? Herk Harvey's imagery really conjures up some Silent-movie era type storytelling. Shame he didn't make more films before he died.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you know that the lovely Candace Hilligoss turned down a cameo in the remake of Carnival of Souls? She said, in so many words, it sucked. Smart lady. :)
Thanks for the comment, James!
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on about the silent film feel that Harvey brings to the screen. The music and visuals blend in a way that is so pleasing to the senses. It's difficult not to become fully captivated by scenes such as this one; scenes that actually feel as if they are unfolding before your very eyes.
And I didn't know that about Hilligoss. Good on her! It's too bad she didn't work in more films. She plays the tortured soul very well and had a great presence on screen.