IMDb > Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) (TV)

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   822 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Frank De Felitta
Writers:
J.D. Feigelson (screenplay)
J.D. Feigelson (story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Dark Night of the Scarecrow on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 October 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Mystery more
Plot:
In a small town, a wrongfully killed man exacts revenge on those who murdered him beyond the grave. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Dark Night of the Scarecrow DVD Update!
 (From HorrorYearbook. 26 October 2009, 9:29 AM, PDT)
Halloween and Horror Books Every Fan Should Own
 (From Dread Central. 18 October 2009, 1:22 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
One of my favorite made for TV movies... more (52 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Charles Durning ... Otis P. Hazelrigg

Robert F. Lyons ... Skeeter Norris
Claude Earl Jones ... Philby

Lane Smith ... Harless Hocker
Tonya Crowe ... Marylee Williams
Larry Drake ... Bubba Ritter
Jocelyn Brando ... Mrs. Ritter
Tom Taylor ... D.A. Sam Willock
Richard McKenzie ... Judge Henry
Ivy Jones ... Mrs. Willams
James Tartan ... Mr. Williams (as Jim Tartan)
Ed Call ... Defense Attorney
John Steadman ... Mr. Loomis
Dave Adams ... Deputy
Ivy Bethune ... Mrs. Hocker
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Stereo
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:M | USA:Unrated
Company:
Platinum Productions more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Bubba Ritter: [about Marylee being attacked] Bubba didn't do it. more

FAQ

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User Comments

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
One of my favorite made for TV movies..., 7 April 2005
10/10
Author: shanakin from United States

First off I have to say this is one of the best scary movies ever made for television, hands down. This movie truly scared me the first time I saw it. In October of 1981 when this movie first aired I was staying with some second cousins on there ranch and we all stayed up to watch it. After it was over we watched the local news and went to bed, and boy I hardly got a wink of sleep the entire night. I can remember laying in the bed just staring around the room all thru the night thinking of the ending to this movie. I just kept thinking that scarecrow was coming into the room at any moment. Keep in mind that I said early I was on a ranch were there might actually be a scarecrow.

This movie stayed with me for a long time and I only saw it once more in the early 90's and even then much older I still got the creeps from it. About 6 years ago I was going thru the TV guide and saw that it was going to be on TBS and I took the time to record it. This movie still gets me every time that I see it. There is a great mood that is set right from the start with the opening credits and the music that is playing, and that mood never goes away thru out the movie. It is so surprising that this was a made for television movie. The performances that the actors convey, especially Charles Durning and Larry Drake are great. I mean you truly hate Charles Durning character so much that you want him to die. It shows how great of an actor he is. I wont give away the ending but I just love it, there is a great justice and truth that the guilty parties didn't get away with murder.

This is one of my favorite television movies of all time simply because I will never forget that first time I saw it. I have grown to love horror movies over the years and wish I would have of watched more of them when I was a kid in the 70's. I've noticed that a lot of the television horror movies out of the 70's and early 80's have quite a following.

There are a couple of people who have left reviews who say this movie is terrible and I completely disagree with them. I guess it goes to show that not everyone will love the same movie you love.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) (TV)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Dont need gore to be scary ramthorn
I've read the original screenplay! soultransfixion
Can anybody identify this other scary TV movie? prismpictures
Who was driving the tractor? willowtara
The DVD? tictacjak
Seen this Film after 17 years After I first seen it WOW karensastar73
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