Advertise with us and reach over 500,000 horror fans all over the world!
DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW (1981)
4 stars
88 Films. Blu ray. 24th March
Back in the 70s and 80s TV movies were all the rage – covering all sorts of genres including horror. Most disappeared into the ether to be forgotten in the mists of time. However a few select titles took on an after life of sorts – fondly remembered by a coterie of fans or discovered later by new viewers. One such is DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW, which is now available in a bright and sharp restoration of it’s 4×3 image (from the original negative) from 88 Films as part of their Slasher Classics Collection – though the fact that it originated from television means that any of the frights were subject to the censorship of the time.
Bubba Ritter (Larry Drake) is a mentally challenged man, who we see in a field playing with his young friend Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe). Their relationship is seemingly harmless but is looked on with disapproval by many of the locals – especially the postman Otis Hazelrigg (a very good and quite nasty Charles Durning).
When Marylee sneaks into a garden full of gnomes, she is attacked by a snarling and dangerous dog. Bubba carries her limp and seemingly lifeless body back to her home – “Bubba didn’t do it”, he declares.
Inevitably the townsfolk, lead by Otis, blame the big lunk and gather the dogs and guns to chase after him, taking the law into their own hands. When they find a scarecrow in a field, they realise it is the source of their anger and shoot him dead… only to discover the young girl is still alive (sorry, bit of a spoiler there).
When they get away with the killing in the court case that follows, a mysterious scarecrow appears and folks begin to die…
This being a TV movie you don’t see much, so it might be stretching a point to call this a slasher. That being said the film is handled well by director Frank De Felita (probably best known for AUDREY ROSE — both the novel and the screenplay to the movie adaptation). Durning is effective as the bigoted postie and it is not hard to see why this is remembered by so many people as it has a creepy atmosphere and lead to a late in the day sequel written and directed by J.D. Feigelson (who penned the script for this original).
Steve Kirkham
EXTRAS
4 stars
Three Audio Commentaries – The Hysteria Continues and Amanda Reyes/film historians Robert Kelly & Amanda Reyes, hosted by Heath Holland/director Frank De Felitta and writer J.D. Feigelson
Soaring Crows – Robert F. Lyons, who played Skeeter Norris talks about the film and it’s production (21 mins)
Bubba Didn’t Do It – 30 Years of the Scarecrow. Good overview documentary about the film. How Fiegelson learnt from Rod Serling and Ray Bradbury. Talking heads include Stuart Gordon (who was a fan), director De Felitta, Unit Production Manager Robert J. Koster, Location Manager Kool Marder, plus cast members Tonya Crowe (Marylee Williams), Larry Drake (Bubba Ritter) and Robert F. Lyons (Skeeter Norris) (31 mins)
CBS World Premiere Promo – from October 24th 1981
CBS Network Re-Broadcast – from September 7th 1985
Cast Reunion Q&A (46 mins)
Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery
Reversible sleeve with original poster & brand new artwork
