It's a shame when great films end up floating around the public domain, virtually forgotten by the masses. Herk Harvey's cult classic Carnival of Souls, however, is one you may never forget. The film relies on dramatic black-and-white photography and a dreamy atmosphere to conjure the horror beneath the everyday.

A young church organist's life is transformed after a car crash and she becomes haunted by a ghostly figure, played by the director himself. When Mary takes off to start her life anew, she moves into a rooming house where her landlady helps her settle in, much to the delight of her lecherous neighbor across the hall. But Mary isn't as interested in his advances as she is in an abandoned pavilion she feels inexplicably drawn to.

Carnival of Souls is often compared to Romero's Night of the Living Dead, as both were filmed by production companies specializing in commercial ventures on a modest budget (Souls was made for a mere $33,000). Romero has also cited the film as an influence. Despite being released six years before NOTLD, Souls is often overshadowed by its more obviously frightening counterpart. Harvey's ghouls are in many ways more terrifying though because of their ambiguity. They could be vampires, zombies ... death – all a twisted manifestation of Mary's psyche.
Mary's character is compelling; her dual nature is as disorienting as the nightmarish world we follow her into. She's independent yet vulnerable, both frigid and sensual, and her face at once distant and luminous. She has no faith (despite her profession) and really, no soul. She has no personal ties, but is bewildered upon realizing the world she once knew has vanished. Her curt nature alienates her well before she experiences bouts of "invisibility" and the fact that she might need anyone, men in particular, disgusts her. Yet Mary is surrounded by male authority figures who attempt to control her – an interesting study of the anxiety surrounding growing female independence during the early 60's.

There are many breathtaking scenes in Souls, including several stunning overhead shots and the pavilion/carnival is an absolute show-stopper. The cast includes mostly unknowns and local performers, which results in awkward and sometimes comedic performances, but the film never quite crosses the line into utter cheese -- making it all the more strange and unsettling. Take note of Gene Moore's uncanny organ score, which is a true thing of beauty and punctuates every moment perfectly.

Check out Carnival of Souls on SlashControl.