Certain moments in films I saw at a young age have always had a massive effect on how I view films today. Every now and again, something will pop into my twisted little mind, and I have to seek out the movie. Sometimes, I know the film, and sometimes, I don’t—just a few particular moments. One film I knew and was affected by was the 1981 film Dark Night of the Scarecrow, which premiered on CBS Television.
The opening fifteen minutes or so has always haunted me. VCI Entertainment has taken the film and delivered it in a 4K presentation along with the 2022 sequel, which might not have been the greatest idea, but it’s what we have to work with.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow follows a small-town group of vigilantes who murder a mentally challenged man after they mistakenly believe he’s taken the life of a child. They are not about to go down for their actions, so they claim self-defense in court and get off scot-free. Once released, the men begin to die off one by one in what looks like unfortunate accidents, but there may be something more supernatural behind it all.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2 takes place forty years after the events of the original. A woman is forced to relocate to a small, rural town with her young son. Once bodies begin to show up, the small town’s past comes back to haunt the present.
The original film still holds up forty years later. Larry Drake may only be in the film for a few minutes as Bubba, the wrongfully slain man, but he makes a major impression. You instantly feel for his character, and his torment is quite appalling. Charles Durning, as the postman turned vigilante, is another standout. He’s such a repulsive character, and he digs deep to bring him to life. In a time when made-for-TV movies were events, Dark Night of the Scarecrow is a standout.
Then there’s part two, which fails to capture what made part one so special. The acting is solid, and the story is fine. Still, where the first only hinted at or toyed with the supernatural, the second tries turning the scarecrow into an iconic villain like Freddy or Jason, and it just doesn’t work. Both films were scripted by J.D. Feigelson, who also directed the sequel. The film has a couple of interesting moments, but the ultra-low budget ultimately hurts the look and feel of it.
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The first film looks great in 4K, but with it being shot for a television movie, I didn’t feel it needed this treatment. My main issue is that both films are included on a single disc, with the second disc being the Blu-ray of the first with all the bonus features. I’d check out that first film again, but only watch the Blu-ray. I do not need the second film, and the 4K transfer doesn’t look very different from the Blu-ray, but if you don’t have the film already, it’s worth the money.
There’s a handful of bonus features like multiple audio commentaries, “Bubba Didn’t Do It: 30 Years of the Scarecrow”, a cast reunion from 2011, the CBS original and re-broadcast promos, and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery. These features are all from the original Blu-ray release, which is the previously mentioned second disc. The only new feature is a Feigelson commentary from 2023. If you already have the Blu-ray, you really have no reason to upgrade unless you’re a die-hard. That first film hits hard every time I see it, but I can do without part two.
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