Released in 1962, spooky spook house thriller Carnival of Souls spent precious little time in the theaters, but gained popularity on late night television. Watching the re-released DVD from 1989, it’s easy to see how this film has become a cult classic.

The film starts with the central character, Mary Henry, a church organist from Lawrence, Kansas, crawling out of the Kansas River, the sole survivor of a car wreck involving two of her friends. She has no memory of how she survived, and in the post-event freak out, decides to move away to a church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Along her drive to Utah, a ghoulish apparition known only as “The Man” (played by director/producer Herk Harvey) begins visiting her, who’s frightening appearances become more and more frequent until she starts questioning her own sanity. While slow in parts, the film is certainly entertaining for the majority of the way through.

Why has this low budget, black and white horror film lasted the past 40+ years? Three obvious attractions stand out. First, it works on the most obvious levels. Though the film may be old, it’s fun to watch and definitely still freaky where it should be. And when the film isn’t scary, it’s funny. Though probably unintentional when being created, the hokey nature of the characters (for the most part clichés with bits of gooey cheese dripping down the sides) make the film an entertaining watch. The leery neighbor who is trying to score a date with the main character is a laugh the whole way through. Second, Carnival of Souls looks great. The cinematography is wonderful, with rich, crystal clear black and white images and deep focus. Technically, the film is a joy to watch. Lastly, the music is awesome. Having the main character be a pipe organist is a great device for splashing spooky music all over the soundtrack (she even listens to it in the car).

All in all, a cool watch for those who dig the freakiness.