This film reminds me a lot of the original VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED. Aside from starring George Sanders, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED was made on a shoestring budget yet was one of the most effective and scary films of all time. While this movie isn't quite as good, it is exceptional--especially when it has a significantly lower budget than VILLAGE. The film was shot around Lawrence, Kansas (not exactly a film mecca) and featured locals and small-time actors.
The film starts with two cars drag racing through the countryside. The one vehicle with three young ladies aboard crashes off the side of a bridge and into the water below. It appears they are all killed but dragging the river is tough since the current is very strong. Then, unexpectedly, after three hours, one of the young ladies climbs out of the water--shaken and dirty but otherwise alright!
The next day, the lady leaves town forever to take up the job as a church organist in a city far away. It becomes pretty obvious based on her actions and body language that she is a pretty asocial type person (a "schizoid personality" is the correct psychological term, by the way) AND she also has little, if any, appreciation for the church--to her it's just a job. However, her tough exterior is quite shaken when she begins seeing a scary dead-looking guy during her drive to the new town. This begins as her car passes an old abandoned carnival but she continues periodically seeing this zombie-like guy once she arrives in the new town. Locals suspect she is crazy and after a while the lady isn't so sure of her sanity as well!! What she IS sure of is that somehow this carnival is the key, so in the end she goes there at night for a showdown.
There's a lot more to the film than this, but I don't want to spoil any of the suspense--and there is a lot of it!! Despite the low budget, this is a "scare the pants off you" type film that is great to watch alone late at night!!! Additionally, the non-professional actors did a bang-up job--this is a true cult classic and deserves to be well remembered. I really wish most modern film makers would see this film to understand that good writing and direction are the keys to great films--not huge budgets, special effects and prima donna actors!
The film starts with two cars drag racing through the countryside. The one vehicle with three young ladies aboard crashes off the side of a bridge and into the water below. It appears they are all killed but dragging the river is tough since the current is very strong. Then, unexpectedly, after three hours, one of the young ladies climbs out of the water--shaken and dirty but otherwise alright!
The next day, the lady leaves town forever to take up the job as a church organist in a city far away. It becomes pretty obvious based on her actions and body language that she is a pretty asocial type person (a "schizoid personality" is the correct psychological term, by the way) AND she also has little, if any, appreciation for the church--to her it's just a job. However, her tough exterior is quite shaken when she begins seeing a scary dead-looking guy during her drive to the new town. This begins as her car passes an old abandoned carnival but she continues periodically seeing this zombie-like guy once she arrives in the new town. Locals suspect she is crazy and after a while the lady isn't so sure of her sanity as well!! What she IS sure of is that somehow this carnival is the key, so in the end she goes there at night for a showdown.
There's a lot more to the film than this, but I don't want to spoil any of the suspense--and there is a lot of it!! Despite the low budget, this is a "scare the pants off you" type film that is great to watch alone late at night!!! Additionally, the non-professional actors did a bang-up job--this is a true cult classic and deserves to be well remembered. I really wish most modern film makers would see this film to understand that good writing and direction are the keys to great films--not huge budgets, special effects and prima donna actors!