IMDb 4.2 2009 HD

Carny

Carny

2009
Action Fantasy Horror Science Fiction TV Movie
88 min NR Canada
4.8 / 10
4.2 IMDB

When a traveling carnival comes to a rural Nebraska town, the caged attraction everyone is talking about is the alleged Jersey Devil. When the beast escapes, tearing the…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Sheldon Wilson / Marjorie Hamel
Starring
Lou Diamond Phillips / A.C. Peterson / Vlasta Vrana / Dominic Cuzzocrea / Simone-Elise Girard / Felicia Shulman / Dani Kind / Kyle Gatehouse

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

tense atmospheric unsettling grim vengeful creature suspenseful rural horror action dramatic

Reviews

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 30, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Carny' is a creature feature that benefits from a strong sense of place and a layered conflict. The arrival of a carnival in a quiet Nebraska town sets the stage for terror when a mysterious beast escapes. Lou…

B
Barnaby Finch
Apr 30, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

Arriving with a travelling carnival, the alleged Jersey Devil in 'Carny' proves to be more of a plot device than a truly terrifying entity. The film, set in rural Nebraska, follows Sheriff Sam Atlas as he attempts to…

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 30, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 2009 offering, 'Carny', conjures a potent atmosphere of dread as a rural Nebraska town becomes the hunting ground for an escaped Jersey Devil. Lou Diamond Phillips provides a steady presence as Sheriff Sam Atlas, a man caught…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 30, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'Carny' attempts to blend a creature-on-the-loose narrative with themes of religious extremism and personal vengeance. The setup is classic: a carnival brings trouble to a sleepy Nebraska town, culminating in the escape of a monstrous entity. Lou Diamond…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 30, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 2009 release 'Carny' presents a rural town thrown into disarray by a travelling carnival and its escaped exhibit, an alleged Jersey Devil. Lou Diamond Phillips anchors the film as Sheriff Sam Atlas, tasked with hunting the creature…

FAQs

Sheriff Sam Atlas is the central figure tasked with restoring order when the alleged Jersey Devil escapes and begins to terrorise the town. His role extends beyond simply tracking the beast; he must also contend with the volatile emotions of the community, particularly the pastor driven by grief and a thirst for revenge. Atlas represents the struggle to maintain law and order in the face of overwhelming terror and human desperation.