Review of Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) by Leslie D — 08 Jul 2011
This made-for-TV film from 1981 is a classic tale of vengeance for crimes left unpunished. Charles Durning stars as the local mailman who rouses 3 others to hunt down Bubba, a mentally-retarded man thought to have killed a local girl.
After killing him, the 4 discover he was innocent, so they begin to cover up the crime. After they are found not-guilty in court, Bubba's mother promises vengeance from one source or another. For a TV movie, this sucker is rather thick with atmosphere and some genuine chills.
It is a familiar story, but the execution is fantastic along with a great performance from Durning whose character grows gradually more desperate to save himself from persecution. The story progresses in a rather predictable fashion and offers few surprises, but that itself is probably not a surprise.
Family-friendly and perfect for Halloween viewing, Dark Night of the Scarecrow is a solid 80's effort. The newly released, restored DVD is a thing of beauty.
This review of Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) was written by Leslie D on 08 Jul 2011.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow has generally received positive reviews.
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