Scarecrows (1988)

Director:

William Wesley

Writers:

William Wesley (story)
Richard Jefferies (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 March 1991 (Portugal)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

They Only Want A Brain ... Yours.

Plot:

Five people heist the Camp Pendleton payroll, kidnap a pilot and his daughter, who are forced to fly them to Mexico...

Plot Keywords:

Graveyard | Payroll | Heist | Double Cross | Scarecrow

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ted Vernon	...	Corbin
Michael David Simms	...	Curry (as Michael Simms)
Richard Vidan	...	Jack
Kristina Sanborn	...	Roxanne
Victoria Christian	...	Kellie
David James Campbell	...	Al (as David Campbell)
B.J. Turner	...	Bert
Dax Vernon	...	Dax the Dog
Tony Santory	...	Jakob Fowler
Phil Zenderland	...	Norman Fowler
Mike Balog	...	Benjamin Fowler
Don Herbert	...	Radio Newscast (voice)
Howard E. Haller	...	Helicopter Pilot / Base (voice)
Bambi Darro	...	Kellie (voice) (as Dyanne DiRosario)

Directed by
William Wesley

Writing credits
William Wesley		(story)
Richard Jefferies		(screenplay) and
William Wesley		(screenplay)
Larry Stamper		(additional dialogue) &
Marcus Crowder		(additional dialogue) &
Stephen Gerard		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
Ted Vernon	....	executive producer
William Wesley	....	producer
Cami Winikoff	....	producer

Original Music by
Terry Plumeri

Cinematography by
Peter Deming

Film Editing by
William Wesley

Production Design by
Gary Roberts

Art Direction by
Clifford Guest

Costume Design by
Beverly Parks

Makeup Department
Norman Cabrera	....	special makeup effects artist
Laura Krewatch	....	hair stylist
Laura Krewatch	....	makeup artist
Mimi Palazon	....	special makeup effects assistant (as Maria Palazon)
Brian Voight	....	special makeup effects assistant

Production Management
Joseph H. Earle	....	post-production supervisor
Frederic Shore	....	executive in charge of production (as Fredric Shore)
Barry H. Waldman	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Elizabeth Marsh	....	second assistant director
Barry H. Waldman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tony Bondanella	....	set dresser
Nicklas Farrantello	....	property master (as Nick Farrantello)
Neil Felder	....	assistant art director
Mayo Sanchez	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Denis Dutton	....	sound editor (as Dennis Dutton)
Jeff Gall	....	dialogue editor
Robert Glenn	....	sound editor
Paul Heslin	....	sound editor
John Post	....	supervising sound editor
Gregory Roble	....	boom operator
Mark A. Rozett	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mark Rozett)
William Shaffer	....	sound mixer (as Bill Shaffer)
Clark Will	....	dialogue mixer: re-recording
Hiroaki 'Zom' Yamamoto	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cathy McKelvey	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
J.B. Jones	....	special effects

Stunts
Liz Marsh	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jorge Ballestros	....	grip
David Browner	....	first assistant camera
Carlos Cabrera	....	grip
Louis DePriest	....	gaffer
Troy Enriquez	....	key grip
David L. Gordon	....	second assistant camera
Ron Halpern	....	assistant camera: second unit
Tom Jewett	....	photographer: second unit (as Thomas Jewett)
Mark Karen	....	first assistant camera
Ernie Marc	....	second assistant camera
Eric Moss	....	best boy
Rick Rico	....	best boy
Monika Sula	....	still photographer
Ray Volmer	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Juliet Provo	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Allen Cappuccilli	....	assistant editor
Jeff Chaves	....	colorist (digital color correction)
Raúl Dávalos	....	associate editor (as Raul Davalos)
Kim Kralj	....	assistant editor
Gina Mittelman	....	assistant editor
Linda Symcox	....	assistant editor
A. Lori Tucci	....	assistant editor (as Lori Tucci)

Music Department
Frank McKelvey	....	music editor
Terry Plumeri	....	conductor
Terry Plumeri	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Mike Balog	....	caterer
Nora Coleman	....	production secretary
Elvis Cruz	....	production assistant
Cheryl Fox	....	script supervisor
Nuria Guardada	....	production assistant
Chris Houghton	....	production assistant
Charlotte Kehoe	....	production coordinator
Joel Lackey	....	advisor: night vision
Karen Lamont	....	caterer
Beth Marsh	....	craft service
Michael Richartz	....	production assistant
Edward Schilowitz	....	production assistant

Thanks
Ron Abraham	....	special thanks
Juan Arocha	....	the producers wish to thank
Dorothy Bergmann	....	special thanks
John Ferrara	....	the producers wish to thank
George Fredlund	....	the producers wish to thank
Linda Lenzen	....	the producers wish to thank
W.A. McCormick	....	special thanks
Ray McRae	....	the producers wish to thank
Burt Moss	....	special thanks
Alan D. Peller	....	special thanks
Scott Pender	....	the producers wish to thank
Albert Shore	....	special thanks
Lynn Shore	....	special thanks
Don Solomon	....	special thanks
Danny Vazquez	....	the producers wish to thank
Ben Winikoff	....	special thanks
Harold Winikoff	....	special thanks
Jean Winikoff	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Effigy Films (presents)

Distributors

• Forum Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Virgin Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1988) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sandstar
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Hollywood Optical Systems (special photographic effects)

Other Companies

• Alter Image  negative conforming
• Armistead Camera Rentals  camera equipment
• Cinesound Company Inc.  sound re-recording (as Cinesound)
• Hollywood Optical Systems  titles and opticals
• Signature Travel  travel arrangements
• Unique Casting  casting: Florida

Also Known As:

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/18 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Davie, Florida, USA

Company:

Effigy Films

Trivia:

Writer/director William Wesley first met make-up artist Norman Cabrera in a comic book store.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Camp Pendleton is a US Marine Base, not an Army Base. USMC's bases start with the word "Camp" Army bases start with the word "Fort."

Quotes:

Jack:If I were a crow I'd be somewhere else.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Silent Hunter (1995)

A little over-hyped, but not a complete washout

'Scarecrows' is one of those little known horror films you read about in message boards and on sites reviewing the obscurest movies in the genre. It also has one of those artworks that really catches your eye and keeps bugging you until you finally see it for yourself. It's developed a cult following over the last 20 years and has since been released on a remastered DVD. It's also one of those films available in R and Un-rated versions, the latter said to have a lot more gore. But is it really all that good? Does it deserve the attention it's been getting? Well, to a certain degree yes, but after seeing it I feel it is a tad overrated.

Pros: A subtle, eerie score. The lack of light really helps give the movie a spooky atmosphere. The performances are adequate. Starts slow, but the pace picks up and moves fine. A good job on the look of the scarecrows, who make some other 80s movie monsters look like pansies. The people behind this film do a pretty good job of keeping things, like the kills for instance, unpredictable. Some chilling moments.

Cons: We don't really get to know the characters well enough to care about them. In the first half some scenes are very hard to make out. No explanation, or even speculation, whatsoever on how the scarecrows come to life or why. The actress playing Kelly gives new meaning to the word overacting. Not exactly an original idea.

Final thoughts: I really do like this movie, it's just that it's not nearly as amazing as a lot of people make it sound. Casual moviegoers and ones looking for something more action packed will be bored, but if you're someone who likes something with a slow build up, a simple story, real chills, and a feeling of doom then this may be for you.

My rating: 3/5