Cinema of the Fantastic is pleased to present our first made-for-TV film (and perhaps the last for a while), DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW. This explains why there is no theatrical poster here and I've had to resort to the awesome (and extremely rare) VHS cover.
A group of hateful rednecks stalks down a mentally challenged 36-year old (Bubba) under the assumption he murdered a little girl. They find him hiding within the clothes of a Scarecrow. After an intense moment, he is murdered firing squad style, his body hanging from the Scarecrow mast even in death. These men end up getting off totally free after trial. However, someone or something begins picking them off one by one, and there is no short list of suspects....
Dark Night of the Scarecrow impresses all the more because it is after all, a made for TV film. Vincent Price, who disliked modern horror films stated "it was mar-vel-ous!" Somewhat of an overstatement yet the fact it ended up a good horror themed TV movie perhaps inflated the film's reputation (how many great TV horror films are there?). Still, the film was rare for years and only recently released on DVD, sparking excitement and enthusiasm for it. The grainy picture somehow translates well with the film and it isn't too predictable. The atmosphere doesn't feel quite the same as most horror films but it's spooky enough and enhanced by convincing performances throughout. It even contains one genuinely creepy scene though I won't spoil it.
Is Dark Night of the Scarecrow a classic? In the realm of TV movies, perhaps. I spent $20 to buy it on DVD and I can easily watch this once or twice a year before I die. It apparently can be watched on Youtube if you don't feel like forking over cash, so I'd reccomend it. It's not amazing but it's something that is unique and not as cliche as you'd expect. THREE STARS OUT OF FIVE.
No comments:
Post a Comment