Dark Night of the Scarecrow 2

Charles Eliot 'Bubba' Ritter is a large but gentle man whose mental disability makes him vulnerable to the town’s fear. He becomes the target of a lynch mob, yet his courage is shown when he rescues Marylee during the initial attack. Bubba’s death and the later revelation of his protective actions drive the film’s themes of injustice and vengeance.

A young girl who is attacked but survives thanks to Bubba’s intervention. Her awareness of Bubba’s actions and her insistence on telling the truth become central to the community’s unraveling of the crime and the scavenged truth behind the killings. Her resilience and perception anchor the emotional core of the story.

The brooding, mean-spirited postal worker who forms the lynch mob and manipulates others through fear and intimidation. He embodies the town’s capacity for cruelty when masked as righteous action, and his paranoia drives many of the later tragic events. Hazelrigg’s vanity and cruelty ultimately lead him toward a violent downfall.

A supernatural avatar of Bubba’s vengeance, the scarecrow enacts justice on those who harmed Bubba. It appears in fields and barns, becoming a symbol and instrument of retribution. In the end, Bubba’s spirit is revealed to possess the scarecrow, delivering a chilling close to the cycle of violence and a stark message about accountability.

The local lawman who must navigate a web of fear, pressure, and conflicting testimonies. He interrogates suspects, weighs evidence, and senses that the town’s official narrative may be compromised. His role underscores the tension between authority and mob rule in the community.

A deputy who assists in trying to maintain order amid escalating violence. He observes the strange events, fights to protect witnesses, and contributes to the investigation that challenges the town’s quick-to-judge mentality. His perspective highlights the frustration of trying to uphold law in a climate of fear.