Carnival of Souls

Poster for Carnival of Souls
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A story so unusual it will burn itself into your mind.

Carnival of Souls (1962) centers on a young church organist who attempts to begin a new life after surviving a devastating automobile accident. As unsettling visions, growing isolation, and an inexplicable attraction to an abandoned lakeside pavilion gradually erode her sense of reality, she struggles to understand the mysterious presence that continues to pursue her. This psychological horror film blends surreal imagery with atmospheric suspense, exploring alienation, identity, mortality, and the uncertain boundary between reality and the supernatural.

Carnival of Souls Blu-ray & DVD editions

See which disc extras are included across selected editions.

Disc Extras
Criterion BD-A/US 2016
Criterion DVD-1/US/OOP 2000
Image DVD-1/US/OOP 2002
Network DVD-2/UK/OOP 2009
Audio Commentary by Director Herk Harvey and Writer John Clifford (Select Scenes)
Audio Commentary by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman
The Movie That Wouldn’t Die! The “Carnival of Souls” Story (1990, 27:34)
The “Carnival” Tour (1999, 4:36)
The Centron Corporation - Audio Essay Narrated by Dana Gould (9:56)
Regards from Nowhere - Video Essay by David Cairns (23:36)
Return to the Salt Queen: Saltair (1966, 26:00)
Final Destination - Interview with Dana Gould (22:41)
Outtakes (27:09)
Deleted Scenes (x3, 4:02)
Saltair Photo Gallery
Centron: Hollywood in a Likable Town (Text Essay)
Saltair: A History of Isolation (Illustrated Essay)
Text Interview with Actress Candace Hilligoss
Text Interview with Director Herk Harvey
Text Interview with Writer John Clifford
Theatrical Trailer (2:17)
“Case History of a Sales Meeting” (Short, 1963, 5:32)
“Centron Corporation” (Commercial, 2:13, 1967)
“Rebound!” (Short, 1955, 21:15)
“Signals: Read ’Em or Weep” (Short, 1981, 5:24)
“Star 34” (Short, 1954, 12:38)
“To Touch a Child” (Short, 1962, 12:01)
Centron Film Excerpts (58:42)
Easter Egg: Archival Footage of the Fire that Destroyed Saltair (1970, 7:26)
Easter Egg: Song “Shake Hands with Danger” (1980, 3:02)

Edition and Packaging Notes

  • Criterion’s Blu-ray includes a fold-out booklet with writing by Kier-La Janisse (“Thinkin’ Like That, Don’t It Give You Nightmares?”).
  • Criterion’s DVD includes a booklet with an introduction by John Clifford and writing by Bruce Kawin.
  • Image’s “The Wade Williams Collection” DVD contains no extras.
  • Network’s DVD includes an 8-page booklet with writing by Kim Newman.
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Collector’s guide

Compare presentation quality and explore notable disc extras across selected editions.

Carnival of Souls title screen
  • Screen shot for The Movie That Wouldn’t Die! The “Carnival of Souls” Story
    The Movie That Wouldn’t Die! The “Carnival of Souls” Story (1990, 27:34)
  • Screen shot for The “Carnival” Tour
    The “Carnival” Tour (1999, 4:36)
  • Screen shot for The Centron Corporation
    The Centron Corporation (9:56)
  • Screen shot for Regards from Nowhere
    Regards from Nowhere (23:36)
  • Screen shot for Return to the Salt Queen: Saltair
    Return to the Salt Queen: Saltair (1966, 26:00)
  • Screen shot for Final Destination
    Final Destination (22:41)
  • Screen shot for “Case History of a Sales Meeting”
    “Case History of a Sales Meeting” (Short, 1963, 5:32)
  • Screen shot for “Centron Corporation”
    “Centron Corporation” (Commercial, 2:13, 1967)
  • Screen shot for “Rebound!”
    “Rebound!” (Short, 1955, 21:15)
  • Screen shot for “Signals: Read ’Em or Weep”
    “Signals: Read ’Em or Weep” (Short, 1981, 5:24)
  • Screen shot for “Star 34”
    “Star 34” (Short, 1954, 12:38)
  • Screen shot for “To Touch a Child”
    “To Touch a Child” (Short, 1962, 12:01)
  • Screen shot for Easter Egg: Archival Footage of the Fire that Destroyed Saltair
    Easter Egg: Archival Footage of the Fire that Destroyed Saltair (1970, 7:26)
  • Screen shot for Easter Egg: Song “Shake Hands with Danger”
    Easter Egg: Song “Shake Hands with Danger” (1980, 3:02)
Editions
Criterion box art
Criterion BD 2016
  • Video
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p23.976
      • 32.24 Mbps
      • 1.37:1
      • 1:18:14.110
      • 18.37 GiB
      • Theatrical Version
  • Audio
      • English LPCM 1.0
      • 48 kHz
      • 1152 kbps
      • 24-bit
  • Subtitles
    • English SDH
Extras Audio Commentary by Director Herk Harvey and Writer John Clifford (Select Scenes) Criterion BD
Audio Commentary by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman Network DVD
The Movie That Wouldn’t Die! The “Carnival of Souls” Story (1990, 27:34, 1080i60) Criterion BD
The “Carnival” Tour (1999, 4:36, 1080i60) Criterion BD
The Centron Corporation - Audio Essay Narrated by Dana Gould (9:56, 1080p) Criterion BD
Regards from Nowhere - Video Essay by David Cairns (23:36, 1080p) Criterion BD
Return to the Salt Queen: Saltair (1966, 26:00, 1080p) Criterion BD
Final Destination - Interview with Dana Gould (22:41, 1080p) Criterion BD
Outtakes (27:09, 1080p) Criterion BD
Deleted Scenes (x3, 4:02, 1080p) Criterion BD
Theatrical Trailer (2:17, 1080p) Criterion BD
“Case History of a Sales Meeting” (Short, 1963, 5:32, 1080i60) Criterion BD
“Centron Corporation” (Commercial, 2:13, 1967, 1080i60) Criterion BD
“Rebound!” (Short, 1955, 21:15, 1080i60) Criterion BD
“Signals: Read ’Em or Weep” (Short, 1981, 5:24, 1080i60) Criterion BD
“Star 34” (Short, 1954, 12:38, 1080i60) Criterion BD
“To Touch a Child” (Short, 1962, 12:01, 1080i60) Criterion BD
Easter Egg: Archival Footage of the Fire that Destroyed Saltair (1970, 7:26, 1080i60) Criterion BD
Easter Egg: Song “Shake Hands with Danger” (1980, 3:02) Criterion BD

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