Strange that I’m attempting a mini-review even before I’ve finished the film, but I’m this way with horror—I just can’t sit still. It’s a very spooky film, which is not to say its a great film, but its surprisingly effective given the sparse dialogue, the relatively simple sets and modest (if I’m being generous) plot. Some shots have more mileage than they should—the haunted silhouette of the eponymous carnival in the distance is among the most memorable; others, like the scene in the department store is quietly affecting. The dialogue also intones much creepiness: Mary Henry (Candace Hilligloss) is told that she lacks ‘soul’; this of course suggests something entirely different than just musicianship. It’s moments like these, coupled with a two-note soundtrack (creepy organ, or silence), and a twist ending that must’ve shocked audiences for the time (itself a fairly big plot-hole, but thats besides the point) that make ‘Carnival of Souls’ perfect evening entertainment—as many have offered, much like a very, very good episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’.