Carnival of Souls is a horror film released in 1962. Produced and directed by Herk Harvey for an estimated $33,000, the movie never gained widespread public attention when it was originally released as it was intended as a B film and today, remains obscure. Set to an organ score by Gene Moore, Carnival of Souls relies more on atmosphere than on special effects to create its mood of horror. The film has a cult following and occasionally has screenings at local film and Halloween festivals.
Herk Harvey was a Lawrence, Kansas-based director and producer of industrial and educational films for the Centron Corporation. While vacationing in Salt Lake City, he developed the idea for the movie after driving past the abandoned Saltair Pavilion. Hiring an unknown actress, Lee Strasberg-trained Candace Hilligoss, and otherwise employing mostly local talent, he shot Carnival of Souls in three weeks, on location in Lawrence and Salt Lake City.
Alex Grant is a troubled young woman, 20 years ago, she witnessed her mother get murdered by a carnival clown. She has nightmares of the clown - Louis Seagram. First a kind man then turned bad and also tried to rape Alex's mother. Alex fears for her life, worrying that Louis might come after her and her younger sister. One day Louis returns after being released from prison for murdering Alex's mother and tries to kill Alex. Alex dries the car that she and Louis are in into the river, then she begins to have hallucinations, she begins to lose her mind Written by Reiss Ferlance
Mary Henry is enjoying the day by riding around in a car with two friends. When challenged to a drag, the women accept, but are forced off of a bridge. It appears that all are drowned, until Mary, quite some time later, amazingly emerges from the river. After recovering, Mary accepts a job in a new town as a church organist, only to be dogged by a mysterious phantom figure that seems to reside in an old run-down pavilion. It is here that Mary must confront the personal demons of her spiritual insouciance. Written by Rick Gregory
A group of teenagers lose control of their car which plunges off a bridge into a river. They must be dead, think the local townsfolk but out creeps a survivor who attempts to carry on with life as she knows it. Written by Scott Dawson
