View Full Version : Carnival of Souls
Apparently this is free on this/next months copy of Total DVD. Looked on IMDB but wondered what you guys thought of it. I'm sure Michael Brooke has heard/seen it.
Not really a fan of total DVD but if the film is worth a 'watch' i may get it.
Thoughts appreciated.
Ta muchly
One of those obscure DVD companies from the US have released a disc of this.
Read about it <a href="http://www.criteriondvd.com/details.asp?spine=63">here</a>.
You can find MB's review of the superb Criterion 2 disc set here (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/reviews/other/carnivalofsouls.html) .
Can I say two things? It's almost my favourite horror film of all time ('spooky' and 'eerie' rather than 'terrifying' and 'shocking' is a nice change) and the Criterion 2-disc set might just be my favourite DVD of all time.
Thanks for the links and views guys. I'm intrigued now and will pick up a copy of the magazine to check it out.
Thanks:)
camino_real
12-12-2001, 21:34
Just been to the Total DVD website to check this out and here's a quote about the disc
"The January issue will feature the first ever full-length movie to be given away free on DVD; it's Carnival of Souls from MPIC Video. A completely restored and enhanced version featuring the Super Psychotronic colouration process, the movie is accompanied by trailers for other MPIC and Blue Dolphin movies plus a showreel from Anchor Bay and trailers from MIA."
This all looks fine and dandy until you realise that the original version of Carnival of Souls was shot in black and white. So what it looks like we have here is a hatchet job on the movie similar to that perpetrated on Night of the Living Dead all those years ago. To which the only fitting reply is noooooooo.....
when is the Jan Total dvd out?
I have the Criterion version of this great film but I wanna see what the *******ised colour version is like - and seeing as it's free!
Originally posted by Narshty
Can I say two things? It's almost my favourite horror film of all time ('spooky' and 'eerie' rather than 'terrifying' and 'shocking' is a nice change) and the Criterion 2-disc set might just be my favourite DVD of all time.
you do surprise me, what's your second favourite?
Criterion's edition of Do The Right Thing - probably the meatiest special edition of all time.
kerbcrawler
13-12-2001, 13:24
This film is a must-see and the Criterion edition is a must-have. I have no humble opinion on this. I am right.
I agree with kerbcrawler - there can be no discussion on this matter.
Mark Orme
13-12-2001, 15:08
Originally posted by Richie
when is the Jan Total dvd out?
I have the Criterion version of this great film but I wanna see what the *******ised colour version is like - and seeing as it's free!
It's in the shop now. I've just bought one, and there's a similar thread in the bargains forum. Never seen it, but I'm sure I'll like it...
Cool! Looks like a purchase is necessary followed by the removal of the colour from my TV before watching! ;)
camino_real
13-12-2001, 17:40
Well I've bought the magazine and watched the DVD. I was hopeful at the start. The picture quality is very sharp and the 4:3 transfer looks OK on my TV. As to sound I couldn't tell you (one deaf ear means that stereo is as nothing to me). The picture is also in B&W! Hurrah I thought, Total DVD has got it wrong. I was sadly mistaken.
In the ghost/zombie scenes the print is tinted an unpleasant green, I could live with this as colour can always be turned off. However the when the tinting occurs the movie goes into step print mode (i.e. a blurring effect is created) thus destroying any atmosphere. It's like hitting you over the head with a brick..look, the film is saying, this is spooky.
An explanation of why the print has been tampered this way is given in the magazine and on the disc itself if you read between the lines. Wade Wellman (who "presents" this version) says that some notes for a version of the film mention that it could be tinted in certain places so he has followed these instructions. Although no colour was specified he found that green worked best. As to the step printing, Wellman says that the film was advertised in some countries as being in Super-Psychorama which seems to be all the justification he needed to add the effect.
The more mundane reason, I think, is that the film is out of copyright and Wellman wanted to create a copyrighted version of the movie. At no point does Wellman say that the director Herk Harvey ever sanctioned a tinted or optically altered version.
All I hope is that people who bought the magazine for the film will overlook these "improvements" and enjoy one of the most atmospheric and disturbing horror films ever made.
Cornelius
13-12-2001, 18:02
I thought it was ok, it's a low budget film, atmospheric and in parts quite eery but the ending was predictable and the actors were, quite frankly crap.
Just thought I'd bring some balance to those giving the impression this is the 'Citizen Kane' of scary films. Raising high expectations amongst people who haven't seen this will lead to disappointment. Mind you getting it cheap off the cover of a magazine can't be bad.
Watch it again, late at night (around midnight), with all the lights off and the colour setting on your TV turned down.
I find the locations and music unbearably creepy and the crap sound effects (a total lack of any background ambience occurs very often) adds a dream-like spookiness to the whole thing.
Of course, the only way to watch it is the Criterion special edition, which beggars belief!
Cornelius
13-12-2001, 22:07
Originally posted by Narshty
Of course, the only way to watch it is the Criterion special edition, which beggars belief!
Why exactly?
LOOK at the review, man! How they dug up two FULL discs of supplements, I may never know...
Originally posted by Narshty
LOOK at the review, man! How they dug up two FULL discs of supplements, I may never know...
What if you don't like extras and are just interested in the film. Are you saying that the extras are more interesting than the film?
Not at all, but they certainly make the film more interesting.
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