Amazon.com Customer Reviews
 Rated 5 out of 5!
Carnival of Souls: Criterion Collection
I am reviewing this item not for the feature (as I already reviewed this excellent film a while back), I am reviewing the Criterion Special Edition DVD, which is a two-disc set packed and
loaded with tones of special features. The first disc contains the original theatrical version which director Herk Harvey edited some sequences and scenes out. The first disc also contains a really neat look back on the film in a 1989 documentary "The Movie That Wouldn’’t Die". There is also a very neat extra of 45 minutes of rare outtakes seen for the first time, and accompanied by the eerie organ music of Gene Moore. Some rare songs not heard in the original movie are here for your scary enjoyment. There is also a theatrical trailer feature.
A very interesting look back on the locations for Carnival of Souls is included, and it talks about the history of the Saltair Resort, which has a very magnificent history and was used for the carnival location, this is an illustrated history. On the second disc, there is a director’’s cut of the film, including some scenes not even shown on the VHS "director’’s cut" editions. One scene that is most notably absent from the original
is the scene where the priest talks to the church carpenter about how strange Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) is. This disc also contains a selected audio commentary by screenwriter John Clifford and the late Herk Harvey. Some excerpts of films made by the Centron Corporation. As well as an essay on the history of Centron. Some printed interviews with film illustrations are featured here as well. This DVD-set is the best DVD-set I’’ve ever seen. The image quality of the black and white transfer is unbelievably clear, and is the best image transfer I’’ve ever seen. The special features are very cool, and believe it or not, the outtakes featured here are remastered in picture quality as well, along with the music score. I was blown away with this DVD, and I’’m sure you will be too. It is one of the best treatments to a cult classic every put on screen. Carnival of Souls is my favourite movie I believe, and I
am so pleased with this DVD-set I could just burst. I thank the Criterion people for making this a dream come true :) - Rated 5 out of 5!
Beautifully haunting ...
I was hesitant to purchase this film, since I have seen so many flawed, tainted versions of it and been enthralled by the content and yet disappointed by the quality of the presentation. In the end, I found myself trusting the reputation of the Criterion Collection and purchased "Carnival Of Souls", finding it to be one of the finest DVDs I have ever purchased. The price of this DVD is worthy of the film, looking spectacular, crisp, clear, and utterly haunting. I wonder now how Herk Harvey (Director) didn’’t end up changing the film industry by his methods of film-making. This Criterion Collection version of "Carnival Of Souls" is well worth the price. I can’’t wait to view it once more!
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