Soul Survivors (2001)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Stephen Carpenter

Writer (WGA):

Stephen Carpenter (written by)

Release Date:

7 September 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The World of the Dead and the World of the Living... are About to Collide.

Plot:

A co-ed is caught between the world of the living and the dead.

Plot Keywords:

College | Ghost | Camel Toe | Infidelity | Coma

Cast

Melissa Sagemiller	...	Cassie
Wes Bentley	...	Matt
Casey Affleck	...	Sean
Eliza Dushku	...	Annabel
Angela Featherstone	...	Raven
Luke Wilson	...	Jude
Allen Hamilton	...	Dr. Haverston
Ken Moreno	...	Hideous Dancer
Carl Paoli	...	Deathmask
Barbara E. Robertson	...	Margaret (as Barbara Robertson)
Richard Pickren	...	Ben
Candace Kroslak	...	Cool Blond (as Candace Kaye Kroslak)
Ryan Kitley	...	Young Cop
Rick Snyder	...	Father McManus
Danny Goldberg	...	Campus Cop

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror/violence, sexuality and some substance abuse. (re-rating): Rated R for some violence, sexuality and language. ("unburied cut")

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (cut version) | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | Germany:18 (director's cut) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:R (unburied cut) (certificate #37809)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Lost Soul Productions

Trivia:

When the Hideous Dancer is chasing Cassie through the alley, there's a shot at the window of an apartment, where we can see that Deathmask is watching the persecution through it.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A crewmember is reflected in a big mirror in Cassie's room.

Quotes:

Annabel: Welcome to the party, Cass.

Movie Connections:

References Carnival of Souls (1962)

Soundtrack:

The Price of Reality

Great concept, not so well made.

I loved the concept of the film, and the script is probably a fantastic read. But I have not read it, so I will not be so fatuous to cast praise or aspersion.

The main flaw in this film is the ease with which it confuses people. From reading reviews many people seem totally clueless as to what the film is about.

The journey that Cassie takes from denial with subconscious guilt to acceptance and despair is well thought out and interesting. Unfortunately there is a lot of rubbish thrown in to contribute to Cassie's confused state of mind. This only serves to confuse the viewer. And these are major plot red herrings too. Like thinking this is a horror film. If you are a sharp cookie and can hold multiple thoughts in parallel you will be able to decipher the film and get something from it... most likely you will like it. If you do not concentrate however, you will drown in a sea of confusion and feel you have just wasted and hour and a half.

Oh, and the first ending was sufficient... what that last bit was supposed to achieve I have no idea, but after a tough mental challenge the last thing you need is a tacked on, serves no useful purpose, post shoot, I'm gonna make you think this film is stupid, ending. Have they any idea how difficult it is to explain to a friend what the film is actually about and how they have completely missed the plot?