Last night I watched a film for the first time that was from a director I was not familiar with. After seeing the picture, I subsequently researched the film, only to find out that this was Herk Harvey’s only feature length film. The rest of the work is his filmography is just a series of short films.
As I mentioned previously, this is the only feature length film from Harvey. It was shot on a shoestring budget of $30,000, and it was very much an independent project. The film was shot in Salt Lake City, Utah and Lawerence, Kansas. So the technical flaws are evident, and the film also suffers from different aspects. But I think most of the problems are because there wasn’t a whole lot of money in this film to begin with.
The plot is pretty simple and straightforward, it follows a young woman and church organist named Mary Henry who was involved in a serious car accident. Afterwards, when she was the sole survivor, she finds herself drawn to a mysterious, and alluring carnival.
One could make that argument that this is more of a style over substance, and that would be valid. However the entirety of the film isn’t completely devoid of dialogue. I am someone who usually prefers dialogue over anything else, but in this case it works to the films style and atmosphere.
This is Candace Hilligoss’ first acting debut. Before she went to the Barbizon Modeling and Acting school in New York. Graduated in 1956. When people discuss this film, some of them criticize her performance in the picture, or say it’s lackluster. I believe I’m in the minority, in saying that she delivered a very entrancing and unorthodox performance.
This is a film about trauma, and anxiety. How it effects someone for the rest of their life. Fear, Death, and Anguish are manifested in the form of dead people dancing, and following the victim. The sounds of carnival music echo through out the mind of Mary, beckoning her to come home.
Cedric Cinema 