Ever since I first saw Frank DeFelitta’s 1981 made-for-TV horror/suspense cult classic Dark Night of a Scarecrow, I never forgot it. It really impressed me with its terrifically straightforward plot, strong characters, and genuine creepiness.
Buy Dark Night of the Scarecrows 1 & 2 Blu-rayThe late, great Larry Drake (in a brief, but memorable performance/role) co-stars as Bubba Ritter, a 36-year-old mentally challenged man who adores children, particularly adorable youngster Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe, in a wonderfully mature child-star performance), which doesn’t sit well with four vicious goons: mean-spirited mailman/leader Otis Hazelrigg (a deliciously devious Charles Durning), gas station worker Skeeter Norris (Robert F. Lyons), and farmers-cousins Philby (Claude Earl Jones) and Harliss Hocker (Lane Smith). They automatically believe he’s always up to no good (after all they’re close-minded hicks with nothing better to do).
When Marylee is mauled by a neighbor’s dog and supposedly killed, the four men instantly assume that Bubba did it. So, they chase him in the woods, first up to his home where he lives with his protective mom Mrs. Ritter (the underrated Jocelyn Brando, older sister of Marlon) who hides him in a scarecrow. The men eventually find and execute him. However, they find out that Marylee is alive and okay, and that Bubba saved her life. After the senseless crime (but lack of evidence), they are acquitted and free to go on with their lives. But when weird “accidents” start to happen and paranoia kicks in, the men are convinced that someone (or something) is after them, thirsty for sweet revenge.
When you watch the film now, you really get the sense that everyone involved wanted to make a truly great TV film, one that keeps you on edge all throughout it. You’re never sure who’s behind the “accidents”. Is it district attorney Sam Willock (Tom Taylor), Mrs. Ritter, or perhaps Marylee herself? You’re not really sure, but that’s the source of its genius, that and the pretty spooky score by Glenn Paxton which elevates the already near-perfect film to actual TV horror masterpiece.
The same can’t be said for J.D. Feigelson’s Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2, the so-called “sequel”, which really doesn’t have much to do with the first film, outside of a few nods and an actually menacing scarecrow.
The story this time centers around single mom Chris (Amber Wedding) and her son Jeremy (Aiden Shurr) who move into a small town with a dark secret, where the townspeople fall prey to a vengeful scarecrow, one that seems to begin its reign of terror as soon as Chris shows up, although she didn’t mean for anything bad to happen, even though she’s running away from her past.
This is a “sequel” that no one asked for. It looks too well lit (for the wrong reasons), has too much dialogue, and only a few, non-memorable slasher kills. It also doesn’t help that the acting isn’t great, and the final shot is very bizarre. I don’t know what anyone thinks about it, but I will probably never watch it again.
The 2-disc Blu-ray set (which will also be available on 4K UHD) has a triple fan commentary for DNOTS with podcaster Heath Holland, film historian Robert Kelly, and TV film expert/author/podcaster Amanda Reyes and a new director’s commentary for DNOTS 2 on Disc 1. On Disc 2, there is the original commentary with director DeFelitta & writer Feigelson for DNOTS; four video featurettes: Bubba Didn’t Do It—30 Years of the Scarecrow, CBS World Premiere Promo, CBS Network Re-broadcast Promo, and Dark Night of the Scarecrow Cast Reunion Q & A; and behind the scenes photo gallery, all for DNOTS. I just wish they would have put everything DNOTS on Disc 1, and everything DNOTS 2 on Disc 2, so the entire set would flow better. But I still think this set is decent enough, especially if you’re a diehard fan of DNOTS, and perhaps DNOTS 2.
