Carnival of the Damned
- Tagline
- Saddle up for a sinister showdown.
- Description
- In an alternate history where the Old West meets the dark corners of medieval lore, 'Carnival of the Damned' tells the chilling tale of a roving circus with a cynical edge. Led by Scone Bennett's enigmatic clown, this circus hides a secret: it's a front for a group of monster hunters, including the steely-eyed Nick Frostrice. When an ancient threat looms over the frontier towns, the performers must use their unique skills to face the unspeakable horrors. Orson Wheel-pie's sharpshooting act becomes a real-life quest for survival against the shadows. Directed by the legendary Stanley Kuduck, this western horror tale is a ride through a world where laughter can be as chilling as the monsters lurking in the darkness.
- MpaaRating
- PG
- PopularityScore
- 5.70
- ReleaseDate
- 03/30/2023
- Genre
- Western
- Director(s)
- Cast
Critic Reviews
4.50
Well, yee-haw and pass the garlic, 'Carnival of the Damned' ambles into town with all the charm of a haunted chuckwagon. The film's attempt to marry the grit of the Old West with the grotesques of medieval mythology ends up as awkward as a clown on a bucking bronco. The legendary Stanley Kuduck must have shot this film with a blindfold on, for the direction lacks the visionary's usual panache. The enigmatic Scone Bennett, draped in clown garb, seems less Pennywise and more penny-foolish, squandering any sense of menace for a cynical smirk. Meanwhile, Nick Frostrice's 'steely eyes' are about as expressive as a pair of rusty saloon doors. The true terror of this PG-rated romp isn't the ancient threat it's the realization that this circus act can't decide if it's a dime store horror or a gun-slinging pastiche. In theory, the idea of sharpshooters and shamans battling it out with medieval monsters should be a hoot, but 'Carnival of the Damned' ends up shooting blanks. The only thing this film hunts successfully is the audience's patience. One would expect the fusion of laughter and chills, but the final product delivers neither—a carnival ride not worth the ticket, unless you're in the mood for a convoluted trot through a half-baked fright fest that's more tumbleweed than terrifying.