Carnival of Souls • The Next Reel

The Next Reel Film Podcast

“Why can’t anybody hear me?!”
The Fascinating Origins of a Classic Horror Film

In the early 1960s, director Herk Harvey stumbled upon an abandoned amusement park in Salt Lake City, sparking the idea for what would become the classic horror film Carnival of Souls. With a shoestring budget and a cast of mostly unknown actors, Harvey set out to capture the haunting atmosphere of that desolate park. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off the One-and-Done series with a conversation about Harvey's 1962 film Carnival of Souls.

Exploring the Liminal Space Between Life and Death

Our discussion of Carnival of Souls delves into the film's unique storytelling approach and its exploration of the space between life and death. We examine how the protagonist, Mary Henry (played by Candace Hilligoss), navigates this liminal space after surviving a tragic car accident, and how her experiences blur the lines between reality and the supernatural.

Throughout our conversation, we touch on:

• The effective use (overuse?) of organ music and striking visual imagery
• The ambiguity of certain scenes and their room for interpretation
• The film's influence on later horror movies

A Timeless Classic That Continues to Captivate

Despite its low budget and relatively unknown cast, Carnival of Souls has endured as a classic of the horror genre. Its haunting imagery, ambiguous storytelling, and exploration of existential themes continue to captivate audiences decades after its initial release. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Film Sundries

• Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
• Check out An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge
• Script Options
• Theatrical trailer
• Letterboxd

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Follow the other podcasts in The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• Sitting in the Dark

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Threads
• Bluesky
• YouTube
• Flickchart
• Pinterest
• Pete
• Andy

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.