Tubi Thursday: Malatesta's Carnival of Blood (1973/2000)

 If you thought that Carnival of Souls was trippy and esoteric...you were right.
Now imagine it was made by H.G. Lewis while he was on Acid non-stop and you get...

The Film is about a Carnival.

It is run by a guy named Blood.
It is owned by a guy named Malatesta.

Sure- that all makes sense.

A couple work there, but have an ulterior motive- to find their missing son.
He went missing here, you see.

We also get a young Couple who wonder about the strange disappearances and get chased around.

Weirdly, they just kind of return to work the next day like nothing happened.

No survival instincts there!

The most common culprit is this weird guy named Stick Man.
He looks like a Zombie and stabs you with a stick.

Truth in advertising, I guess.

The Film just kind of meanders around following a woman who gets lost, the random cannibal hobos, Mr. Blood and, oh yeah, Herve Villechaize!

He randomly appears and then he's gone.
He returns later- don't worry.

Things are obviously not safe here, but, also, we never quite see anyone around.

Oh right- the Budget was like $1,000.

Who will live?
Who will die?
Will you be able to follow any of this?

To find out, stream it now or buy the...Blu-Ray?!?  Yes, this too got a Blu-Ray release.

This one...was strange.  It was very strange.

Some background first...
It was made and released in 1973.  It got a limited run at a Drive-In or two.  
Thanks to what they called disastrous audience feedback, the full release was scrapped and copies burned.

In spite of that, a copy was found in 2000 and put out on video.
This somehow got a Blu-Ray release in the last 5 years.

Positives- it has a weird and interesting vibe.  That will get you through a few of the plodding Scenes of strange people wandering around.
It has a neat feel- that will get you 40 minutes in- tops.

The problems arise when you try to judge this as a Film and not a fever dream.  I'm not sure that David Lynch could follow this!

As a one-time Filmmaker's effort with no money and a vague concept, I can't hate it.
As a Film that I'm trying to enjoy, I'm less thrilled.

On the plus side, Stick Man would go on to be a regular in the early years of Late Night With Conan O'Brien (no joke!)...

A bizarre Film that sure...exists.  Weirdos like me will get something out of this, but this is far more of a once-lost curiosity than a great Film.