Carnival of Souls

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Carnival of Souls

PG

Released Sep 26, 1962

1h 20m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Mary Henry ends up the sole survivor of a fatal car accident through mysterious circumstances. Trying to put the incident behind her, she moves to Utah and takes a job as a church organist. But her fresh start is interrupted by visions of a fiendish man. As the visions begin to occur more frequently, Mary finds herself drawn to the deserted carnival on the outskirts of town. The strangely alluring carnival may hold the secret to her tragic past.

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Critics Consensus

Carnival of Souls offers delightfully chilling proof that when it comes to telling an effective horror story, less can often be much, much more.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

For all its odd haunting moments, Carnival of Souls is best appreciated knocked off its pedestal.

Sep 26, 2022

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Glenn Kenny

Video Review

Its imagery evokes not a horror of blood, but a horror of loneliness.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 26, 2022

Full Review

Hugo Davenport

Daily Telegraph (UK)

If not quite a neglected masterpiece, it shows what could be done by atmosphere and suggestion before the days of slash and splatter.

Sep 24, 2022

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

The strength of Carnival of Souls lies not in the big reveal, which is obvious almost from the beginning, but in the unsettling mood it creates and the striking images Harvey puts on the screen.

Rated: 7/10

Mar 1, 2025

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Howard Waldstein

CBR

What Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls lacks in budget, it more than makes up for in inventiveness.

Jun 27, 2023

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Jorge Loser

Espinof

With a dreamlike spin, the film explores the dark side of the '50s American ideal of a perfect society... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/5

Nov 14, 2022

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Lau S

I love this horror movie! Damn great!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Kalissa H

Reminded me of The Twilight Zone in its “something’s not quite right” feel. I liked it. The version on HBO Max was crystal clear, so great quality. The people coming out of the water was a cool scene at the end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Stephen C

Scares me in 1 1/3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

J H

Predictable, pedestrian, and filled with irritating "Count Chocula" music.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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Tom M

Eerie little low budget film. Everything about this is odd. The acting , camera angles, music...like an 'outer limits' episode.But quite a good one.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Charlie M

For the parts that are finished, good job! For the parts that aren’t finished, let’s just say there’s a good reason why they aren’t finished.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

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Herk Harvey

Director

Candace Hilligoss

Mary Henry

Frances Feist

Mrs. Thomas

Sidney Berger

John Linden

Stan Levitt

Dr. Samuels

Art Ellison

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Synopsis

Mary Henry ends up the sole survivor of a fatal car accident through mysterious circumstances. Trying to put the incident behind her, she moves to Utah and takes a job as a church organist. But her fresh start is interrupted by visions of a fiendish man. As the visions begin to occur more frequently, Mary finds herself drawn to the deserted carnival on the outskirts of town. The strangely alluring carnival may hold the secret to her tragic past.

Director: Herk Harvey
Producer: Herk Harvey
Screenwriter: John Clifford
Production Co: Harcourt Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 1962, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 20m

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