HDC Halloween Special #2: Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)

[_____V_____]

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Continuing the series for some best, forgotten films for the spooky season ahead, this time I have chosen the seemingly low-brow, but superb effort from the early 80s. Not only does it have a fairly solid story, but the execution, the pacing and the picture-perfect characterisation would put some of the more mainstream horror films to shame.

It had a superbly executed monster, and one of the most terrifying ones in modern horror - the scarecrow. Which makes it perfect for a Halloween watch.

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A story set around revenge. A little girl in the rural fields, her friendly neighborhood "gentle giant", a savage attack, dark, sinister farm-acres, brooding shadows, crazed chipper machines, scary atmosphere, terrifying sequences, and a memorable climax which lingers in the memory.

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"Bubba didn't do it!"

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Charles Durning and Larry Drake tower above the rest of the cast, which is made up of veterans of the 80s who are perfectly cast into their roles. Little Tonya puts in her best effort as well.

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The roar of the approaching tractor, it's discs slicing through the field!

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You will be terrified, while having a lump in your throat. A highly recommended watch for October.

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Rated - a solid * * * * stars!


IMDB - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082235/

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Night_of_the_Scarecrow

Rotten Tomatoes - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dark_night_of_the_scarecrow/

A Review - http://www.oh-the-horror.com/page.php?id=704

DVD & Blu-Ray - http://www.vcientertainment.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=649

[hammerfan]

I don't think I've ever seen this! At least, it's not ringing a bell. I'll have to see if it's streaming anywhere.

EDIT: Put the DVD at the top of the Netflix queue. I'll watch Prowl tonight, send it back tomorrow, so should have it early next week.

[Damn Heathen]

This is on my Halloween playlist and is probably in my Horror Top Ten. I can't think of a better made-for-tv horror movie. Ray Bradbury himself helped with the script, although I don't think he made the creds. Many producers slap the "thriller" tag on your run-of-the-mill horror movie, but this one where the horror-thriller tag truly fits.

[The Villain]

I love this movie. I agree with everything V has said. Its really creepy for a made for TV movie and does a great job building suspense. The best Scarecrow movie I've seen. Definitely gonna have to make time for it in between my own marathon and Chronos.

9/10

[newb]

I'm not 100% sure if I've seen this one. I may have when it was first televised.

any way......another one that you can get on Youtube

yqGgZJcfNlQ

for $35 you can get a chromecast ...lets you watch Netflix, Hulu, Youtube and many more on any TV

[metternich1815]

Sadly, I cannot comment on the film as I have not seen it. It has been on my list for awhile as it was highly recommended on another site.

[_____V_____]

Sadly, I cannot comment on the film as I have not seen it. It has been on my list for awhile as it was highly recommended on another site.

Exactly the reason why I said:

Continuing the series for some best, forgotten films for the spooky season ahead

Watch it during the Halloween season and report back. I am sure you will love it.

[metternich1815]

Exactly the reason why I said:



Watch it during the Halloween season and report back. I am sure you will love it.

Very true. I will definitely look forward to watching it. I will plan to view it sometime next month. From the looks of it, it is perfect for that season.

[hammerfan]

I'm not 100% sure if I've seen this one. I may have when it was first televised.

any way......another one that you can get on Youtube

yqGgZJcfNlQ

for $35 you can get a chromecast ...lets you watch Netflix, Hulu, Youtube and many more on any TV

I have Roku....I wonder if they have a YouTube channel

[newb]

I have Roku....I wonder if they have a YouTube channel

oddly enough....it doesn't appear that they do. They do have a shit load of channels though....a few horror. Maybe you can find it on one of those.

http://www.roku.com/channels/#!browse/movies-and-tv/by-popular

[hammerfan]

oddly enough....it doesn't appear that they do. They do have a shit load of channels though....a few horror. Maybe you can find it on one of those.

http://www.roku.com/channels/#!browse/movies-and-tv/by-popular

I did a search for YouTube - they do have it! Installed it, and a bunch of horror/supernatural channels! Woo hoo!

[_____V_____]

any way......another one that you can get on Youtube

Runtime is 96 minutes. Wondering what is cut in that youtube version.

[Damn Heathen]

I watched it tonight and confirmed its 10/10 status. Apart from a short bit of half-baked (but hilarious) courtroom drama, this movie oozes class, even in many of its scene transitions (which use ties of sound, color, shape, or theme).

Otis' pettiness and bullying turns to pure evil by the end, and C. Durning plays him to a turn. I can't think of an actor better suited for the part of Bubba than L. Drake.

I like how the mystery of the killer is kept under wraps till the very end, with no superfluous social commentary, epilogue, or bit-character nonsense to spoil its impact.

[Giganticface]

Wow, I've never even heard of this one. Thanks, V, and thanks newb for the tip that it's on YouTube.

[hammerfan]

Watching it right now. It's on FrightPix on Roku.

[ChronoGrl]

Watching it right now. It's on FrightPix on Roku.

That's a bummer... I got all excited because I have FrightPix on my XBox but they must have a different contract than with Roku... No luck finding it. I'll have to see if I can find it on YouTube.