Malatesta's Carnival of Blood

I don't think I could prove in a court of law that I've actually seen this. It's far more a fever dream experience than a feature film. If whittled down to a storyline on a napkin, I think you could see a fair premise for a horror film, but you would've excised everything that makes it an experience: the sets, the cast, the costumes, the public domain horror films in the background of a room full of ghouls. Recommended if you press play after midnight but before you pass out.

Truly one of the most demented, batshit INSANE b-movie of all time. Virtually plotless, just a nightmarish spook show made on a $2 budget (the cheapness and amateurish framing and camera angles only adding to its dank, seedy vibes). There's something uncomfortable and genuinely creepy here, like these acidheads just broke into an abandoned, deteriorating carnival at night with a camera and shit went crazy. Essential!

I cannot recommend this with any certainty or legitimacy. There is no plot, no acting, and hardly any gore - but it has mood to spare, with an elliptical, nightmare logic that is deeply troubling, and scarier and seedier than its mainstream counterparts. If you like the title, you'll love the movie. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Very good overlooked independent horror. It has this eerie almost surreal atmosphere that makes it feel like a nightmare.

This is one of those movies that couldn't exist today or whatever. Very low budget yet I liked certain aspects. Definitely a geek show that's for sure.

Very low budget horror film which is thin on plot but heavy on atmosphere. It makes wonders of limited resources; mainly the decaying carnival location, tons of plastic props and a cast of no-name actors with distinctive faces. It follows a dream logic and in a way reminded me of Lynch’s Eraserhead, although I’m not sure if this was a result of a strong vision or just a happy accident. Anyway, it was possibly my favourite of Arrow Films' American Horror Project boxset.