Dark Night of the Scarecrow [Import]

I remember this coming out on TV when I was in the 4th grade. It was very scary to me then, but even though it's not so scary now that I'm older, it still holds up as a really good creepy movie. I also remember the next day at school every kid was talking about it. Good stuff.
It amazes me how great made for TV movies were back then. I recently found out that the classic thriller "Duel" was also made for television. Wow.
Dark Night of The Scarecrow is among my favorites in the classic horror genre. I also think this movie was even good enough to have been released in theaters. So, if you are a fan of creepiness, then this film should make you happy.

Joe Wizan and J.D. Feigelson presents "DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW" (24 October 1981) (96 mins/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Don't leave this film out of your collection, as being made for television and it's not up to par for all of the thriller and suspense fans out there --- Just be prepared to disprove those rumors, as this well-acted little shocker inclusive top notch actors convey, especially Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, as the little girl, Mary Lee does a superlative job with her acting, Jocelyn Brando (Marlon Brando's sister) and Larry Drake as the mentally challenged Bubba, are genuine with their performances --- You can feel the sense of dread and terror throughout within this idyllic rural setting --- Which in now transformed into a scene where fears are realized --- Not to mention the wind is always blowing leaves across a lonely road, the shadows seem especially deep, and as the title states, the night seems especially dark, just right for a "Scarecrow".

VCI gives us a clean & clear copy with many bonus and extras in this special release.

Under the production staff of:
Frank De Felitta [ Director]
J.D. Feigelson [Story/Screenwriter]
Butler Handcock [Story]
Bobbi Frank [Producer]
Janet Greek [Associate Producer]
Joe Wizan [Executive Producer]
Glenn Paxton [Original Score]
Vincent A. Martinelli [Cinematographer]
Skip Lusk [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Frank De Felitta [Director]
Date of Birth: 3 August 1921 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

2. J.D. Feigelson
Date of Birth: 8 February 1941 - Beaumont, Texas
Date of Death: Still Living

3. Charles Durning
Date of Birth: 28 February 1923 - Highland Falls, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

4. Larry Drake
Date of Birth: 21 February 1950 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Date of Death: Still Living

5. Robert F. Lyons
Date of Birth: 17 October 1939 - Albany, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

6. Lane Smith
Date of Birth: 29 April 1936 - Memphis, Tennessee
Date of Death: 13 June 2005 - Northridge, California

7. Tonya Crowe
Date of Birth: 24 January 1971 - Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: Still Living

8. Jocelyn Brando (older sister of Marlon Brando)
Date of Birth: 18 November 1919 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: 27 November 2005, Santa Monica, California

the cast includes:
Charles Durning ... Otis P. Hazelrigg
Robert F. Lyons ... Skeeter Norris
Claude Earl Jones ... Philby
Lane Smith ... Harless Hocker
Tonya Crowe ... Marylee Williams
Larry Drake ... Bubba Ritter
Jocelyn Brando ... Mrs. Ritter
Tom Taylor ... D.A. Sam Willock
Richard McKenzie ... Judge Henry
Ivy Jones ... Mrs. Willams
James Tartan ... Mr. Williams (as Jim Tartan)
Ed Call ... Defense Attorney
John Steadman ... Mr. Loomis
Dave Adams ... Deputy
Ivy Bethune ... Mrs. Hocker
Dennis Robertson ... Ray
Jetta Scelza ... Mrs. Whimberly
Modi Frank ... Waitress
J.D. Feigelson ... Ludie - CB radio
Robert J. Koster ... The Scarecrow
Alice Nunn ... Mrs. Bunch

SPECIAL FEATURES [BONUS]:
1. Trailers of upcoming "VCI Spine Tinglers"
2. Director & Writer Commentary
3, CBS Network World Premiere Promo ~ October 24, 1981

In closing this is one of the best made for TV movies ever to come along --- Great performances by a perfectly selected cast make this a must watch for classic thriller fans --- The plot gets a boost in an interesting way, check out the interaction between Durning and Tonya Crowe and how it plays out --- Plus Charles Durning as a nasty scumbag and Larry Drake in the touching role of a sweet retarded man living in a prejudicial community --- Highly recommend "Dark Night of the Scarecrow" for all die-hard fans of thrillers and suspense genres.

Total Time: 96 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment #8200 ~ (09/28/2010)

"Dark Night of the Scarecrow" is the perfect Halloween movie for those who are fed-up with the over-the-top, ridiculous gore in fare like "Friday the 13th" or "Scream".

This is a quiet little TV-movie from 1981 that has garnered somewhat of a cult following over the years from its annual reruns on cable stations like TBS.

Charles Durning and a trio of small-town vigilantes execute the town simpleton Bubba Ritter after a young local girl named Marylee is hurt. They immediately learn that the mentally-challenged Bubba actually SAVED her life after a vicious dog attack. Though the judge declares them all innocent, Bubba's mother warns "There's other justice in this world besides the law!".

A series of strange events makes each of the murderers gradually come unglued until Durning himself is convinced little Marylee is responsible for all the bizarre accidents that are offing his cronies.

Though I like my horror movies to be based somewhat in reality, the ghostly and supernatural overtones of this movie didn't put me off at all. It's a highly-entertaining ride all the way through that never lags or bores, despite the low-key ambiance of the whole thing.

The visuals here are very interesting; Durning leers behind a skeleton decal on the window; wind blowing eerily through a dry wheat field; trash cans rolling through the street on a gusty night; the bright oranges and rusts of the pumpkin patch. All of these evoke a wonderful autumn atmosphere that makes this a Halloween classic.

The director also uses several clever cuts like when one character falls to his death into a wood chipper cuts to a dollop of strawberry preserves being plunked onto a dessert plate--brilliant! And never before has a silo looked so menacing or the piercing whistle of a kettle been used to such great effect to amplify the tension.

The film is also surprisingly layered and subtle, as when we learn that Durning may have had another motive for killing Bubba--jealousy of his friendship with Marylee. Durning's stalking of the girl at the Halloween dance and Mrs. Ritter's insinuations of pedophilia visibly unnerve him and give the viewer more reason to despise him.

The movie has an almost fable-like quality to it, about the pitfalls of paranoia, reaping what you sow and has not dated at all.

There is also an ambiguity about Marylee's spiritual connection with Bubba and a creepy, ambiguous ending.

**TRIVIA NOTE** Tanya Crowe (Marylee) was the actress who played the young Kelly Garrett/Jaclyn Smith in the famous "Seance" episode of "Charlie's Angels" where the wicked orphanage matron Beamish locks young Kelly in the closet.

VCI Entertainment has done an exceptional job on this release. The print looks fabulous--as though it was filmed yesterday. Though most of their output so far has consisted of more Grindhouse-like horror movies, I commend them for doing such a great job in putting out the long overdue "Dark Night of the Scarecrow".