Foreverisacastironmess I never judge a film by its budget, but nevertheless, the overall effect that Frank De Felitta managed to achieve with so little is something that I find very impressive. It is a bit of a sad story, ignorant bullies rushing to some very harsh conclusions and murdering a helpless mentally backward man and not even really feeling any remorse about it, only thinking of their own skins and fearing justice - and that they should indeed in this spooky country tale of just desserts from beyond the grave! It's quite straightforward and is really just a simple yet strongly focused story of supernatural revenge that they were trying to tell, and it's one of the rare flicks where you're actually rooting for the restless spirit and not the people who brought about its curse in the first place. What I most enjoy about this film is its chillingly effective foreboding atmosphere of dread and tension that builds as each of the condemned men are picked off one by one by a dark force that remains unseen... That's also something that I love a lot about this, how you don't even need to see a rampaging undead scarecrow running around slaughtering people in order to feel the fear, if they had chosen to go that route I believe the film would have turned out very hokey and wouldn't be anywhere near as well-made as it is. And to me anyone who hates the picture because of the fact that you don't really see that much just isn't getting the point, I think it's an excellent example of that which you don't see being much more eerie and unsettling, and when you finally do see just a little something at the very end it's a lot more meaningful and is like the icing on the cake! It's all done in a nice subtle way with all the gruesome horror gags being practically stripped down to nothing, which while I'm aware was very likely due to the budget, is still something that in the case of this movie I could really appreciate because I thought it made the spartan plot a lot more impactful. I liked the windblown rural setting, all of the plain and dull country visuals do a lot for the tone of the story. It's slow but to me felt like it took its time, and once again I liked how its horror was very minimalistic, as opposed to the typical everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to many other slasher movies of the time. Something else that works in its favour is how the actors who played the four vigilantes really made their small roles into pretty well-rounded characters instead of just generic faceless bad guys. The fat squeaky-voiced fella's death is the most suspenseful sequence for me, and I find it hilarious when the scared rabbit of the group has a mental breakdown in the graveyard! But I think the overall best performance goes to Charles Durning who truly is the real monster of the movie and actually kills more people than the scarecrow! He may be a mailman, but he's such a relentless evil-spirited toad that you really grow to hate him and can't wait for him to get what he deserves. When it's subtly suggested what his real reason for wanting Bubba out of the picture is, I liked that because it added an extra depth to his creepiness. And the sequence that leads up to the demented Hazelrigg ironically impaling himself on the very pitchfork that he originally placed in the scarecrow's hands I love because the scene is so hectic and the pumpkins give things a surreal, almost fable-like quality for a moment, and especially with what follows and the poignant closing image of an ending that is both touching yet also a little bit 'off' and chilling somewhere. Bubba the scarecrow gives her the flower holding it by the stem, like she taught him to do in the opening scene. Sweet. There was something enigmatic and sometimes a little sinister about the girl's attitude regarding the ghostly nature of her friend and how she didn't seem to grasp or care about what death was, and how she just continued to play with him even after he was dead. She was cute as corn-on-the-cob but at times creepy as Children of the Corn.. Sweet little Marylee had a hit-list! Unlike many of its fans, I never saw this as a child, so it doesn't have that special nostalgic place in my heart, but the first time I watched it, I did really like and get into it right away and found it to be a compelling and satisfying viewing experience, one that deserves its praises as a mini classic that was once forgotten and rediscovered by word of mouth. Good old movie.

TheBlueHairedLawyer Most made-for-TV movies such as IT are missing a good plot like their books had, or just aren't very good. Dark Night of the Scarecrow is amazing for its time and budget, not only horrific but also pointing out the prejudice towards mentally challenged individuals. In a small farming community lives Bubba Ritter, a mentally challenged 36 year old man who is kind and enjoys playing with the town kids. He is the scapegoat for the men in town, especially the postman Otis, who is secretly a pedophile and tries to make his friends assume Bubba is a child molester. Bubba rescues Marylee, a little girl, from an attack dog, and ends up getting shot at by the men, who think he molested and beat her. When they learn that he actually saved her life, they win their trial and vow never to speak of the ordeal again. Bubba's mother is devastated over the loss of her son; she gets a visit from Marylee who has no idea Bubba is dead. Mrs. Ritter doesn't have the heart to break the news; she just says, "he's gone where they can't hurt him no more". It isn't until a scarecrow appears and men begin to be murdered that people question their wrongdoings... It's both a sad and beautiful story of friendship; Bubba dies after saving Marylee and still continues to protect her from the molesting postman even after his death. It's also a very eerie horror story, the death in the wood chopper is quite disturbing, as are the others. The acting of all the characters is very good, especially Bubba's mom and the postman. It was directed by the author of the novel Audrey Rose, which was also made into a movie very popular in the late Seventies. I highly suggest you watch Dark Night of the Scarecrow, it's worth it!

Bezenby Here's a blast from the past! I remember seeing this film as a kid (around eight or ten) and everyone talking about it the next day in school. Three memories of this film: Bubba getting rather nastily executed by firing squad, the scene in the grain silo, and the end shot (which I won't spoil for you). It was on television last night so I thought I'd give it a go again, and see if it's still as scary as it was back then. It wasn't, but then again about thirty years have passed. What you do have however is a fairly solid supernatural thriller with a few scarecrow chills thrown in for good measure (but it could have done with more to be honest). What makes it still enjoyable is Charles Durning's performance as the evil postman who'll do anything to cover for his crime, that crime being the killing of mentally handicapped Bubba, who was mistakingly blamed for the mauling of his child friend, Mary Lee. Durning and his three cronies get literally get away with murder (they shoot Bubba to death while he's hiding inside a scarecrow), but they all get warned by Bubba's mother that there are other types of justice. Soon, things get all creepy when Mary Lee starts claiming that Bubba isn't dead, and a scarecrow turns up in one of the guy's fields. You know what that means – Scarecrow vengeance!I'll say no more about the plot but after all these years I was still impressed by the whole mood of the film. Durning helps greatly as he generally lies, cheats, and even kills to protect himself while Bubba generally gets his own back. The film centres mostly on Durning, however, as we get to see him try and find out who's messing with his head. Although lacking in gore (being a TV film) and slightly slow to get going, there's plenty to recommend here. It certainly stuck in my head as an impressionable young kid. Good stuff.

Scott LeBrun In a small town, two gentle souls have a friendship going: young Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe) and mentally impaired adult "Bubba" Ritter (Larry Drake). However, the postmaster, Otis Hazelrigg (Charles Durning) doesn't like what he sees; he believes that Bubba is a blight on their fair town. When Marylee is attacked by a dog, and (erroneously) assumed dead, Otis is all too ready to believe that Bubba was responsible (when, in fact, he saved Marylee's life) and collects his friends (played by Robert F. Lyons, Claude Earl Jones, and Lane Smith). They hunt Bubba down, find him hiding inside a scarecrow, and pump a good number of bullets into him. However, there's no evidence the district attorney can provide to suggest that the murder was anything other than self defense.Have no fear, however, as these four men will soon start to be psychologically terrorized and ultimately killed.To start with, this is an exceptionally good looking film, even more so now that the movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray and has been restored. The rural atmosphere is vividly realized, right from beginning to end. The story allows for some genuine scares and suspense - more to be found than in a good number of theatrical productions - and 'Dark Night of the Scarecrow' gets high marks for its potency; while its horrors are mostly implicit rather than explicit, they still pack a punch. Even the extreme violence that the movie suggests is intense for anything made for prime time network TV; one of the deaths may well have inspired a similar sequence in "Witness" approximately four years later.Give credit to writers J.D. Feigelson & Butler Handcock and director Frank De Felitta for keeping things ambiguous right up until near the very end. They merely present a few possibilities as to who could be doing the killing, and leave it at that. Memorable images include the sight of Bubba's terrified eyes behind the scarecrow's eye holes, and the big finish in the pumpkin patch is incredibly spooky.The cast couldn't be better. The always rock solid Durning is compelling in a rare lead role. As the story progresses, we learn his ulterior motive for wanting Bubba away from Marylee, and we can see what a stone cold creepy s.o.b. he is. Young Crowe is appealing, as is Drake in a role that will automatically have TV viewers thinking of the similar role that propelled him to fame years later on 'L.A. Law'. Lyons, Jones, and Smith are no less than believable as a worthless trio of jerks who understandably start coming unglued as their own guilt adds to their terror. And Jocelyn Brando (Marlon's older sister) is wonderful as Bubba's loving mother, who reminds us all that the law isn't the only form of justice that exists.This is great stuff that could be enjoyed at any time of the year, not just Halloween. I unfortunately missed the original TV airings, but this is why it's so nice to finally have it on the digital format for many people to discover or visit again. Top notch.Eight out of 10.