Scarecrows: The Ultimate lost gem.

[skantchweasel]

I have had well over a thousand original videos through my hallowed shelves over the years - the stocked number fluctuates with old faces making way for the new, tired old movies being sold on through sheer boredom, bedgetary and logistical restrictions... However, back before the paychecks, before the dole checks (thats welfare i guess to you guys over the pond) back in the days of pocket money, when the first seeds of my collection were planted, i happened across a chap selling movies from a suitcase at £5 a pop. In a world where sellthrough only happened only to old Classics, (y know like Alien & maybe the 1st Terminator - that would have been as genre fare as it got) otherwise youre looking at shelling out £70 per video. Any movie would have done, however the only thing looking remotely horror related was "Scarecrows". It looked shit from the case. The Tagline stank ("When it comes to Terror - theyre in a field of their own") and the chap selling the tapes said it was supposed to be "Really scary like" - Hold the phone Barry Norman!
That night, we sat transfixed and were given a lesson in Horror cinema which our VRA protected eyes had not been prepared for...
This would be about 13-14 years ago and to this day nestled between Scanners and Tom Savinis Scream Greats sits Scarecrows...

<<Im gonna talk about the film ... Could mean SPOILERS... What do you expect me to talk about eh?>>>

Five commando types are making good their escape in a Hijacked plane with a rather large sum of money from a daring Military Payroll robbery. One of the number Lets the green eyed monster get the better of him and bails out over an expansive area of greenland, leaving a primed grenade as compensation. Narrowly escaping catastrophe, unfortunately at the expense of some lame visual effects (NOTHINGS perfect!!!), the Jilted teammates vow revenge and bail out in pursuit... With a schiztophrenic voice over from the "Chicken-Shit" Burt, a game of Cat and mouse ensues. His location being constantly updated from the plane circling overhead and the taunts of his persuers grating more and more into his psyche, it becomes aparent that the criminal scum are not alone out there... The farm house in the middle of the cornfield being used as a temporary base of operations seems to have been previously occupied by 3 farmers, their current whereabouts is uncertain, but their hobbies and interests are pointed toward being a little more sinister than agriculture.. Eventually the hunters become the hunted as their number start to fall to the occupants of the field.. The Scarecrows are alive and dont take prisoners!!! Nerves fray rapidly with the team showing their true strengths or lack thereof - What is happening there? Did they really manage to escape the runway? Is this all a twisted part of a greater plan? What is the arcane paraphanaelia adorning the locked room? Why did Burt take 2 magazines of semi automatic sub machine gun fire and keep coming when hes filled with nothing more than money? Will they last till Dawn? Will it matter if they do?

Now admittedly the thought of a Scarecrow up and wandering around, Dawn of the Dead Stylee may seem a tad ridiculous and rightly so. But these Mothers are hectic! Most of the time, youre looking at some bag headed flea bag scarecrow, wondering whether its the light, or it actually is breathing, then ... WHAM!!! ATTACK SCARECROW!!!! PITCHFORK IN THE F*CKIN HAND!!!! Yeah baby! The Attack Scarecrows arent portrayed as Stalking creatures, theyre there to tear some shit up and only appear when shits gonna go down! Then theres their Handiwork... the reanimated scare-commandos, cruel mockeries of their former commrades! What will it take to stop them?

Writing this, i can see how someone reading the blurb on the back could well be swayed against seeing this movie, but one thing that kinda sways the balance.. may be a little difficult to grasp here... Its a good film, a feature missing from a lot of horror movies, causing the sort of scorn from mainstream fans which weve come accustomed to, but Scarecrows is actually a good film, a very good film! Example - Bad Taste, personally one of my all time favourites, but even i know its shit! The Thing, brilliant technically, accompanied by brilliant and credible performances.

Essentially a cult classic and deservedly so. Sterling performances from a totally unknown cast (although Jack did go on to play a Random cop in T2 - the one showing Sarah Connor the pics of Arnie) help create an uneasy sense of dread. With a welcome lack of comic relief the Atmosphere is allowed to play a full part in the proceedings, you wont feel foolish for feeling unnerved by them Darn Scarecrows.. Although widely acknowledged as a fear factor movie, please dont think that Scarecrows skimps on the red sauce - there is some righteous interpersonal mayhem on display here! You get the 3 Ds (staple point of Skantchs gore flicks.. Dismemberment, Decapitations and.. Yumm DISEMBOWELMENT) live and in colour, and some totally winceworthy shock stabs which really need to be seen..
Isnt it a wonder what independant film makers can create when theyre not trying to pander to a specific market?
If i may be so bold, one worth giving up a friday night for...

If only the movie was released 5 or 6 years previously, perhaps i wouldnt be writing this now as it would have found its audience with all the other Balls to the Wall fear-fests, rather than being conceived at such a time when the Horror Comedy was de rigeur. Unfortunately Scarecrows has become lost in time, its reputation being championed on Message boards and through Word of Mouth, i know ive promoted this movie constantly since seeing it!

Please someone give this Horror Classic the chance it deserves... Groovy DVD release really needed...


Whew! Back with a vengeance!

[countchocula]

I don't have much to say since I haven't seen Scarecrows, but I really, really, really, really want to see it. Perhaps Anchor Bay or Blue Underground can exhume this film from the depths of obscurity. I don't care if it's a barebones disc, just release the fucking thing!

[The Claw]

Scarecrows was good. Might be a little slow. but it's cool, far better then any other killer scarecrow movie.

[The Professional]

The Problem with scarecrows isn't the effects or atmopsphere, which are pretty good, its the fact that every other line of dialogue is laughable and so is the made-for-cable plot. that ruins what could have been a great jem of a film 6/10

[MadmanMARZ]

I saw this movie in the 80´s and haven´t seen it since then, thought it was an OK movie then...

[Alan Idol]

It was alright. Maybe the deaths were a little too bland for me, or maybe it's because the scarecrows weren't that scary. If you want to see a better Scarecrow movie, I suggest Night of the Scarecrow.

Scarecrows: 2.5/5
Night of the Scarecrows: 4/5

[countchocula]

I'm elated to report that Scarecrows is finally in my possession! Even if I despise the film, I won't regret the purchase. I’ll view it tonight; a review is forthcoming. Stay tuned, schmoes!

[The Claw]

Originally posted by countchocula
I'm elated to report that Scarecrows is finally in my possession! Even if I despise the film, I won't regret the purchase. I’ll view it tonight; a review is forthcoming. Stay tuned, schmoes!


I am masterbating in anticiptation.

;)

[countchocula]

Fuck, you ejaculated all over my copy of the film. Now what?!?!? Couldn't you have baked cookies in anticipation? Or licked your Bob Barker pin-up in anticipation?

[The Claw]

Yeah sorry about that count-eroo.

[countchocula]

Argh! I must further postpone my viewing of Scarecrows. My VCR has been temporarily rendered inoperative. I did get to see the opening credits before things fell apart, though. Very cool!

[DWhots]

I picked up this flick a while back for $3, and it was the uncut version. I love this movie, a nice easy pace, good acting. strong gore. How could you go wrong.

cheers

[countchocula]

http://zombie.dreamhost.com/reviews/scarecrows.scarecrows.jpg

SPOILER-FREE

I’ve always testified that movies are never worth more than thirty bucks. I could rationalize shelling out that much cash if it were a jam-packed DVD that was vehemently beckoning your wallet, but if we’re just talking about a washed out VHS, only an ignorant fool would relinquish a robust sum of money for it. Take me, for example. I invested thirty bucks in a markedly grainy videotape, and while those thirty bucks could’ve went to something...of importance, I’m glad that I took a gamble and effaced any reservations I may have had about slackening my stringent rules as a miser. But this isn’t just any old washed out VHS; this is Scarecrows, one of those ridiculously rare horror films that beseeches you to ask the question, “Why in the holy hell isn’t this movie more popular?” It has its faults, the most detrimental being an inclusive lack of character development, but it definitely ranks higher than some of the more recognizable titles from the late ‘80s.

The storyline is thin, but it works. A few military grunts purloin millions of dollars, hijack a plane, and utilize their parachutes once they fly over a barren cornfield. Little do they know that their “safe haven” is crawling with the titular fiends. Director William Wesley takes a NOTLD approach to the murderous scarecrows in that their genesis and motives are kept ambiguous. We don’t know why they feel compelled to mutilate trespassers, but this isn’t need-to-know information. The minimalist plot makes for an ideal environment to create well-rounded characters and dialogue that could sustain an entire film on its own merits, but sorry to say, Scarecrows’ foremost fallibilities lie in those two departments. The military grunts are rarely anything more than military grunts, and the snobbish, timorous teenager is rarely anything more than a snobbish, timorous teenager. A few of the cast members blend into one another, and the film never truly settles on a main character.

The dialogue is uninspired. It never really rises above obvious statements and profanity-laced invectives. Speaking of which, the frequent expletives come off as a result of lazy writing. Don’t get me wrong, my ears aren’t sensitive to “dirty words,” but surely there are clever synonyms for “asshole,” “motherfucker,” and “son of a bitch.” The acting is competent, but the actors don’t have much to do. Ted Vernon is Corbin, the lead grunt. He’s restricted to exhibiting his masculinity through “macho” posturing and strings of vulgar language. For what it’s worth, Vernon plays a convincing asshole and I couldn’t stand his character. I was hoping that I’d love to hate him, though. Victoria Christian plays Kellie, the timid teen who’s held hostage by the scandalous soldiers. She cries, screams, and looks pitiful. Again, not the most demanding performance in the world, but she doesn’t embarrass herself. The viewer is supposed to root for her, but she’s just not fleshed out enough to garner sympathy. Literally speaking, she has about a page of dialogue.

Where Scarecrows fails in serving up a modicum of depth, it succeeds in treating us to a bleak atmosphere, menacing villains, prevalent gore, and genuine suspense. Luckily, I snatched up the unrated version. From what I hear, this is the only version to even consider purchasing. The death sequences are abrupt and visceral. The film takes its precious time getting to the vile fripperies, but once the plasma begins to percolate, the gore-gobbling region of your brain will sizzle! Of course, the scarecrows themselves have a looming appearance. They’re especially eerie when nailed to a cross, which leads me to believe that Victor Salva watched this flick in preparation for Jeepers Creepers 2. Wesley’s camerawork is sound and restrained. He builds up quite the baleful mood and keeps things moving at a controlled pace. In addition, he leaves little room for comedy relief, so the final product is glum and straight-faced. This is advantageous, as I don’t think that the film would have clicked with a campy spirit.

The climax completes the film, but I would have preferred a heftier running time. Excluding the opening/closing credits, the film doesn’t even scuff 80 minutes. But that’s a trifling objection. If there’s one genre nugget that BEGS for a DVD release, it’s Scarecrows. Not only does it deserve a fair amount of exposure, but it’s also in dire need of a clean transfer. My copy is unduly muddy. In all fairness, the entire film takes place at night and the lighting is...well, there’s hardly any lighting to speak of. For whatever reason, William Wesley didn’t contribute much to the genre after this straw-laden shocker. Apart from an episode of Monsters, his only other project to date has been 2001’s lukewarm Route 666. At least he can say that his directorial debut was a keeper.

My rating-3.5/5

[Jason13thh]

I own The Night Of The Scarecrow and it is a fun movie.

[Subotai]

I loved Scarecrows. It just makes you think "what if..." William Wesley was given a decent budget to work on a couple of decent horror films.

Route 666 wasn't as scary, but decent. I think the fact he got those solid actors testifies to Wesley's strength as a director and the strength of the project. It just lost some of its punch part way through. I hope it wasn't his last...

[Pestilence]

****POSSIBLE SPOILERS****

Scarecrows is IMO one of the greatest horror movies ever made, with some absolutely brutal gore (the worst I think being a guy having a bag put over his head, then stabbed straight through the face), and the Scarecrows themselves are awesome. Extremely effective lingering shots of the Scarecrows on their crosses as Skantchweasel said - making you think "are they breathing? Are they not?". Absolutely fantastic.

Night of the Scarecrow - Can anyone tell me if this is the one with the Warlock who comes back from the dead in a Scarecrow and kills people? If so, from what I can remember this one was decent, but not a patch on Wesley's film. The Warlock's Wisecracks didn't really do much for me in this film, but some decent gore made up for it....like the guy having the corn grow from the inside of him outwards :)

[countchocula]

Originally posted by Pestilence
Night of the Scarecrow - Can anyone tell me if this is the one with the Warlock who comes back from the dead in a Scarecrow and kills people?

That's the one. It doesn't compete with Scarecrows, but it serves up plenty of gratuitous gore and nudity. For a straight-to-video flick, it actually looks professionally made.

[Romero&Juliet]

I dont know what it was, but the flick had a very cool look.. maybe it was budget restrictions, or just a cheap-ass production..

sometimes that can really add to the flick's atmosphere..

whatev, Scarecrows had me by the balls. It had a baddddass story and I thought it excecuted perfectly.. That kind of debut is the stuff that good horror was made of.

The dialogue was a little shotty at times, but there was a catch..

SPOILERS!

Most of the time you weren't sure who was saying that shit.. you'd hear the muffled voices of the grunts swearing at the traitor, but it would immediately cut to the scarecrows.. I thought that VERRRRY fucking cool.

that sense of paranoia made the traitor's POV believable: these grunts were BADDASSES!

Gore was great, too..! I've got the unrated version and the nasty shit helped speed up what could've been a very slow second half..

highly reccomended!

[Subotai]

It warms my heart to see so much love for this film.

[countchocula]

Great review, Arrow! It's a crying shame that you got stuck with the R-rated version. Not to brag, but you're missing out!

[rtatick]

I agree, I enjoyed your review Arrow and I've consistently heard good things about this flick.

What's the best place to find this thing? I see it on Half- 17 for the unrated version it seems. That seems a little high for me to take a chance on.

[countchocula]

It's twenty bucks over at Amazon. I would say rent it first, but no one carries it. You could take the plunge, or if you have patience (I don't), you could wait for Blue Underground, Anchor Bay, Media Blasters, or whoever to release it on DVD.

[XCoRyX]

i want to check this one out BIG time..after reading counts and arrows reviews...

[Hans, wihout Franz]

I actually saw this quite a while ago and I remember it being pretty decent. from what I can remember the gore was very good. The deaths scenes cool. and loads and loads of atmosphere. Gonna have to check it out again.

[psycho path]

This looks like my kind of movie! I love eerie scarecrows/cornfields and all that.

BTW, If your reading this Arrow, your review kicked ass!