Carnival of Souls

The present unfolds in the late 1990s in a remote seaside town, contrasting with events from 1977. A long-ago trauma shapes every decision and memory, while the carnival's mythic aura blurs the line between nightmare and reality. Nightmares, visions, and a string of violent incidents punctuate the era's atmosphere.

The film unfolds around a coastal tavern—the Mermaid Bar—where Alex works and memories linger. The action moves between the tavern's docks, a waterfront pier, and a traveling carnival that comes to town, creating a moody, water-swept backdrop for the story. The seaside setting heightens isolation and the sense that danger lurks just beyond the waves.

🕯️ Trauma and Memory

Alex's life is haunted by her mother's murder and Seagram's abuse. Past violence resurfaces as nightmares and eerie visions that threaten her grip on reality. The carnival's figures act as manifestations of guilt, shaping her choices and fear. The theme examines how unresolved trauma distorts perception and fuels danger.

🎪 Reality vs Illusion

The narrative constantly shifts between waking life and carnival reverie. Encounters with Seagram linger as apparitions, challenging what is real. This blurring invites the audience to question whether events are happening or are products of a traumatized mind.

🗡️ Predation and Survival

Seagram embodies predation and control, pursuing Alex with brutal intent. Her attempts to escape drive drastic actions, including a deadly crash and confrontations with phantoms. Survival becomes a tense negotiation between fear, agency, and illusion.

🌊 Seaside Isolation

The coastal setting amplifies isolation, with the Mermaid Bar and empty docks as settings where pain festers. The ferris wheel, water imagery, and fog-bound town create a liminal space where danger emerges from waves and shadows. The environment underscores how secrets can endure in remote, atmospheric places.