#1 - Carnival of Souls (1962)
(dir. Herk Harvey)
Somewhere between Night of the Living Dead and Last Year at Marienbad, this is a b-movie classic that was way ahead of it's time. After miraculously surviving a terrible car accident, Mary Henry moves across the country to start a new job as a church organist. In her new home she is haunted by the image of a strange pale man, and finds herself mysteriously drawn to an abandoned carnival just outside of town. Her world becomes increasingly hostile and surreal as she is tormented by these visions. Is she going crazy, or is she dreaming? Did she really make it out of that car alive?
Despite some weak acting from everyone but the two lead actors, this is a great film. There is a dreamlike and surreal quality to the whole thing, and the wooden acting actually adds to that feeling. The most apt comparison I can make is to an episode of The Twilight Zone (in particular "The Hitch-Hiker"). The music is also fantastic - the score consists almost entirely of really great hypnotic organ music. Though much of the cinematography is workmanlike, there are some great shots here too, especially at the abandoned carnival.
It is also a thematically interesting film. Mary's spirituality is brought into question repeatedly throughout, and multiple characters accuse her of "not having a soul". Is she trapped in this purgatory because of her isolation and lack of faith, or is her inability to connect with others part of her punishment? This is up for interpretation, as the film never answers these questions. From a feminist point of view, it is interesting that most of the film involves Mary being marginalized and "mansplained" to by the rest of the cast, or creeped on by her sleazy neighbor. The initial car accident even involves a car full of women run off the road by another car full of men. Mary seems to have no interest in men, yet her personal hell is full of them.
I also like the idea that purgatory is in Utah.
David Lynch cites this as one of his favorite films, and its influence on things like Eraserhead and Twin Peaks is clear. I'd put it in the same category as films like Psycho and Repulsion - if you are a fan of classic horror, do yourself a favor and seek this one out. Highly recommended.
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