Carnival of Souls (1998)

A young girl witnesses the brutal rape and murder of her mother by a circus clown and begins to have nightmares when the carnival comes back to town when she is an adult.

Director:

Adam Grossman

Writers:

John Clifford (story "Carnival of Souls"), Adam Grossman (screenplay)

Stars:

Bobbie Phillips, Shawnee Smith, Larry Miller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobbie Phillips	...	Alex Grant
Shawnee Smith	...	Sandra Grant
Larry Miller	...	Louis Seagram
Paul Johansson	...	Michael
Cleavant Derricks	...	Sid
Henry G. Sanders	...	Officer Soby
Brendan Dillon	...	Henry (as Brendan Thomas Dillion)
Anna K. McKown	...	Elaine (as Anna Kristen McKown)
Raquel Beaudene	...	Young Alex
Tiffanie Ann Taylor	...	Young Sandra
Joseph S. Griffo	...	Photographer
Robert LaSardo	...	Candyman (as Robert A. LaSardo)
Mark Paskell	...	Clown
Ellen Albertini Dow	...	Mrs. Meltzer
Andrew Craig	...	Worker

Storyline

The eleven year-old girl Alex Grant witnesses her mother being raped and killed at home by the carnival clown Louis Seagram. Many years later, Alex works with her younger sister Sandra Grant in the Mermaid Inn that was owned by their mother. Out of the blue, Alex is attacked by Louis that was hidden in the backseat of her car on the day of the anniversary of the death of her mother. She struggles with Louis and drives her car into the sea to protect her sister. Then she swims back to the shore on the area of a carnival. From this moment on, Alex has nightmares and daydreams with Louis. What is happening with Alex?

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Plot Keywords:

carnival | hallucination | surrealism | bathtub | car in water | 

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Taglines:

Enter at your own risk!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/terror, a strong sex scene and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wes Craven Presents 'Carnival of Souls'

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Trimark Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in 1997, not released until 1998.

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Quotes

Alex Grant: [to Sandra about Louis] I know it sounds impossible, but I know he's here.

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Connections

Remake of Carnival of Souls (1962)

User Reviews

Borrows the Title and a Small Part of the Original Storyline

The eleven year-old girl Alex Grant witnesses her mother being raped and killed at home by the carnival clown Louis Seagram (Larry Miller). Many years later, Alex (Bobbie Phillips) works with her younger sister Sandra Grant (Shawnee Smith) in the Mermaid Inn that was owned by their mother. Out of the blue, Alex is attacked by Louis that was hidden in the backseat of her car on the day of the anniversary of the death of her mother. She struggles with Louis and drives her car into the sea to protect her sister. Then she swims back to the shore on the area of a carnival. From this moment on, Alex has nightmares and daydreams with Louis. What is happening with Alex?

"Carnival of Souls" (1962) is a low-budget cult movie with a story that seems to be an episode of "Twilight Zone". "Carnival of Souls" (1998) is not a remake and only borrows the title and a small part of the original storyline. The plot is boring and totally predictable, sort of a combination of "Jacob's Ladder" with "Carnival of Souls". The result is an average and forgettable horror film. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Parque Macabro" ("Macabre Park")