One time in college I was going on the Zipper with a buddy. The guy running the ride said he would take it easy on us. I said he couldn't make us puke even if he tried.
That was a rough night at the carnival.
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The rides don't mess with physics, they work because of physics. They are a decadent display of the laws of the universe!
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No mention of the portal to another world at the Santa Rosa boardwalk in Us?
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A carnival plays a major part in the opening of "The Dead Zone" by Stephen King too; as usual the actual rides are no threat at all. I think it's natural that carnivals trigger some dread or unease, as it's usually dark, with disorienting lighting, and the senses can't be fully trusted. People eat too much sugar or greasy food and get nauseous, not to mention going on the rides usually induces vertigo. And of course, the aim of everyone working at the carnival is to get money from the townsfolk; any game of chance is bound to be rigged, the hoops don't fit over the targets you're aiming for, and so on.
Nonetheless, despite an occasional accident, everything at the carnival is more safe than being in any large group of humanity. People are a threat, wise to keep that in mind at all times.
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a Spoiler alert re: stranger things" would have been welcome
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Carnivals, clowns and marionettes all have an inherently high creepy factor....
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Don't forget "The Circus of Dr Lao," which probably influenced Bradbury's books. The movie versions of both Finney's book and "Something Wicked This Way Comes," were disappointing, the more so because Bradbury had a hand in marring his own little masterpiece.
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@Peter Aretin, the movie SWTWC did have its points, though. Jonathan Pryce was a sinister wonder as Mr. Dark. Jason Robards was terrific as the regretful Charles Hathaway--and the face-off between him and Dark is a beauty. As well, the look of the film is perfect--summer shading into fall (and eternal) darkness. The major weak points were the kid leads--and the dialogue.
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Let's not forget the little known 1980 film "Carny" featuring a very young Jodie Foster who runs away with a carnival and befriends Gary Busy and Robbie Robertson running a dunk Bozo joint. Her character gets lured away from home by the lights, sounds and mysteries of the traveling carnival.
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@Jeff . . . thanks . . . I thought I might be the only one who remembered this dark gem . . . William dallas texas
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My favorite carnival movie is The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao - which, while an unfortunate example of Hollywood "yellow-face" is still an entertaining movie with a camp performance by Tony Randall (as all the faces) and some pretty groovy stop-motion animation.
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And when TV was introduced, we were told it would be edifying...
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You mention Carnivalé.....oh, how I miss it! One of the best tv series in the last 20 years, cancelled after only 2 seasons. And the numbers were good, if not great. The art direction was masterful and effective. The characters interesting and deeply human. Fifteen years later I can still recall images, scenes and moods. What a shame it was cancelled.
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