COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROWS: DOUBLE-FEATURE (VCI 4K UHD)
One of the lost traditions in entertainment is the made-for-TV movie. Once a staple of the American household, these studio productions were not the most gory or violent, but they offered some interesting and creepy stories that were palatable enough for a wide audience. These films were often aired as specials and re-ran on occasion to film airtime or celebrate certain holidays. For a certain age of horror fan, made-for-TV movies were most prominent on kids' channels like The Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, but as the 90s progressed the movie gave way to the show and we got less and less made-for-TV films. It is hard to say if this is a true loss, as not all of these films were very good, but it was yet another avenue for filmmakers to get their works seen by a lot of people without having to go through the theatrical system and were easier to control due to lots of studio oversight. One of the best examples of great made-for-TV horror is 1981’s “Dark Night of the Scarecrow” which has received the 4K UHD upgrade from the fine folks at VCI Entertainment. In addition to the first film in 4K, we also get the 2021 sequel as well. Is this a double-feature to die for, or something you’re best passing on?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (1981): When young Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe) is found viciously mauled, all hell breaks loose in her small rural town. Officious postmaster Otis P. Hazelrigg (Charles Durning) leads a gang of bigots in pursuit of the suspect: her mentally challenged friend Bubba Ritter (Larry Drake). Finding him hiding inside a scarecrow, they exact brutal mob 'justice'...only to discover a tragic mistake! Now a strange apparition stalks the land seeking each of them out, as the legend of the Scarecrow begins.
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2” (2021): A dark terror lies just below the surface of the small town Chris Rhymer (Amber Wedding) and her young son Jeremy (Aiden Shurr) have settled in. One day while looking for Jeremy, she comes upon a weathered old scarecrow, and realizing that is only an inert effigy, she tells it her secret for being there. Now, suddenly after forty years, a dark terror stalks the cornfields. Is it on a mission of revenge or is it protecting Chris from outside threats? The legend of the Scarecrow continues . . .
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (1981)
HOW IS IT?
This review will be split into two to cover both films, starting with “Dark Night of Scarecrow” or “DNOS” for short. For many years, “DNOS” was only a memory for those who saw the original TV movie during its initial run or in reruns, but it lingered as one of the urban legend films for some time (much like its kindred spirit film, “Night of the Scarecrow” from 1995) being elusive to most collectors. Thankfully, VCI Entertainment heeded the call back in 2021 with a Blu-Ray upgrade of “DNOS” for the 20th anniversary. In this re-release what remains true is that this may be the best made-for-TV horror movie of all time, and it is a perfect companion for spooky season that is approachable enough for all ages.
“DNOS” is a fairly simple story about how ignorant people become vigilantes without thinking things through (sounds familiar, doesn’t it), and the repercussions of delaying justice for the sake of protecting the community. Larry Drake plays Bubba, a gentle and harmless guy who seems to have some form of intellectual disability although it is never disclosed or clarified, but alluded to with characterization. His performance as Bubba may feel somewhat out of place in today’s modern context, but it never veers into toxic stereotypes or parody at Bubba’s sake. One of the best aspects of “DNOS” is that it handles Bubba with care, despite the wrong done to him in the story. “DNOS” spends an ample amount of time setting up the situation by showing not just how Bubba gets misjudged, but also the legal proceedings that occur after to hold those who murdered him accountable. It is a point that still resonates today, where officials who are in place to uphold the rule of law go against that oath to curry favor to let people get off scot-free.
The horror in “DNOS” kicks off around the midway point and is more intense than one might imagine given how bloodless the movie is. As a made-for-TV film, particularly in the 80s, there was a firm boundary on what you could and couldn’t show, but that offers up a challenge for a filmmaker trying to scare without having a gory toolkit to fall back on. In this way, “DNOS” is heavy on creepy autumn vibes and tension, not to mention the great look of Bubba’s scarecrow and the ways he drives his wrongdoers to the brink of sanity. The ending may leave some wanting more closure, but it is quite fitting to leave things hanging considering no mythology or lore is introduced to help explain things, and not everything needs or requires an explanation! “DNOS” is a perfect example of how to make a great horror movie without needing a high-concept plot or effects gimmicks to elevate it. It has characters that feel real, situations that mimic our current reality, and suspense that holds your attention throughout. It’s a shame that the sequel doesn’t carry forward so much of the original’s goodwill.
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2” (2021)
20 years after the original film was released, J.D. Feigelson, the writer of the first film put on his directing hat and revived “Dark Night of the Scarecrow” for a sequel aptly titled, “Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2” or “DNOS2” for short. If the first film was an exercise in dramatic tension and restrained scares, “DNOS2” is the complete opposite. A bumbling and boring film that is overly confusing considering the lack of complexity in the plot and woefully uninteresting as the emphasis is placed on unexplained mythos and some uninspired performances.
In an attempt to extend the story from the first film, “DNOS2” tries to make connections with previous characters returning and of course, Bubba. However, it’s never really clear if this is Bubba, as the first film ends with some ambiguity. There is no time spent trying to explain how or why Bubba is still around, and his motives this time are wildly different than they were in the first film. To make matters more uneven, there is an overly complicated story about a robbery or some other crime that hangs over some of the characters. It’s a muddled mess and surprisingly hard to follow for something with such shallow depth. The biggest mistake that “DNOS2” makes is that is extremely light on the scarecrow kills, and even when they do happen they lack a proper budget with cheap CGI. It is not common for us to have such disdain for a film, but “DNOS2” has so little to offer that it makes it hard to even find something worth singing its praises for. It’s a shame too, because the idea that Bubba could be an avenging scarecrow taking down local bullies and shitheels is a great idea for a slasher, and would be closer in tone to the first film. There isn’t much more to say about “DNOS2”, and that's unfortunate because of good the first film is bundled with this one.
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (1981)
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
The main feature of this release is the updated transfers to 4K UHD after the Blu-Ray HD releases back in 2021. VCI Entertainment has done a great job with the first film by maintaining its natural grain and smoothing out some of the washed-out colors. The aspect ratio for the first film is appropriately 1.33:1 to reflect the dimensions most common among TV productions at the time, and the 2160p resolution provides a marginal, but noticeable upgrade from the Blu-Ray version. v on the other hand has a widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio and given its relative newness doesn’t have any need for restoration or transfer work. “DNOS2” is clearly a digital production and has some of the hallmarks of shooting in that format that give it a slightly less cinematic look. It’s not a gripe as much as an observation, and you can see images from both films below and throughout this review.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
In the sound department, there isn’t any change from previous releases as the first film has both the original LPCM 2.0 mono track alongside the LPCM 5.1 mix from the 2021 release. The 5.1 mix is fine but doesn’t have much to do given how little the action in the scenes requires it. It still sounds good with a nice balance between diegetic sound, dialogue, and music. The same can be said of “DNOS2”, which boasts just the 5.1 mix. It’s perfectly fine but it never gets a chance to work the rear speakers as much as one might hope.
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2” (2021)
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
Bucking the trend of many 4K UHD upgrades, VCI has opted to give fans a couple of new extra features to sweeten the pot for those going from Blu-Ray for 4K UHD. We didn’t review the additional commentaries here, but we did take in the Bubba Didn’t Do It: 30 Years of the Scarecrow which is a 31-minute documentary going through the production history of the first film. Of note are interviews with Larry Drake as he talks about this being his first professional acting gig in LA, and how he was not the first choice for the role. In addition, much of the casting was done to appease the TV executives at CBS with familiar faces who weren’t going to require much selling. What’s most endearing is hearing how the town they found to film was supposed to be a cheaper option, but the townsfolks were familiar with Hollywood and knew exactly what and how to charge hourly rates for location shooting. The reflection of the film and it’s legacy at the end of the documentary are sentimental and speak to the staying power this film has had for over 30 years. A full list of special features included in this release are listed below.
Bonus Materials
NEW Triple Fan Audio Commentary - hosted by Heath Holland (Cereal at Midnight podcaster) and featuring Robert Kelly, a noted film historian, and super-fan Amanda Reyes, an expert on TV movies, author, and podcaster
NEW Audio Commentary - Dark Night of the Scarecrow commentary by J.D. Feigelson (2023)
Audio Commentary - the original Dark Night of the Scarecrow commentary track with writer J.D. Feigelson and director Frank DeFelitta
"Bubba Didn't Do It: 30 Years of the Scarecrow" by Daniel Griffith
Dark Night of the Scarecrows cast reunion Q&A recorded at the 2011 Frightfest Film Festival
CBS World Premiere broadcast Promo (1981)
CBS Network re-broadcast promo (1985)
Photo Gallery – Behind the Scenes
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (1981)
LAST RITES
“Dark Night of the Scarecrow” is a timeless classic and likely the best made-for-TV horror movie of all time. It looks great in 4K and it’s a shame that the sequel is so lackluster or else this would be one of the best double-feature releases around. Still, this is a worthwhile pickup for the upgrade of the first film alone, and consider the second film a freebie.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at MVD ENTERTAINMENT for providing a review copy for the crypt! Dark Night Of The Scarecrow: Double-Feature, is available NOW and can be purchased via MVD DIRECT!
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