Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Year: 1981

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank De Felitta

HorrorHorror

Bubba, an intellectually disabled man, is falsely accused of assaulting a young girl. To flee, he disguises himself as a scarecrow and hides in a cornfield, where four self‑appointed vigilantes track him down and shoot him. Though the men are later acquitted for lack of evidence, they soon become the victims of a relentless stalker who hunts them down one by one.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a remote Southern town where heat seems to linger as long as the gossip, an unlikely bond forms between a gentle, intellectually disabled laborer, Bubba, and a curious young girl named Marylee. Their friendship, quiet and sincere, becomes a quiet ripple in a community that prefers clear lines and unspoken hierarchies. The locals watch their interactions with a mixture of protectiveness and suspicion, aware that any deviation from the norm can quickly turn from intrigue to alarm.

The town’s uneasy rhythm is further shaped by a brooding postal worker, Otis Hazelrigg, whose sharp judgments echo through the streets, and by a handful of self‑appointed protectors who feel it is their duty to uphold a fragile sense of order. When the fragile peace is threatened by accusations that point at Bubba, the community’s fear takes on a tangible shape; a simple field of corn becomes a refuge, and a weathered scarecrow offers a disguise that blurs the line between hiding and being hunted. The atmosphere thickens with a low‑key dread, as the very landscape seems to watch and remember every whispered doubt.

Beyond the immediate turmoil, an unsettling feeling settles over the town. The men who stepped in to enforce their version of justice find themselves under a silent, lingering pressure, as if something unseen is quietly turning the tables. The cornfields and dimly lit streets take on an ominous presence, hinting that the consequences of fear may reach far beyond what anyone expected. In this tight‑knit community, the interplay of suspicion, solidarity, and an ever‑present sense of unease creates a haunting backdrop where the line between protective vigilance and relentless retribution remains ever‑blurred.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 16:23

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Supernatural revenge stories like Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Where the wronged dead return to deliver brutal, otherworldly justice.If you liked the relentless, otherworldly retribution in Dark Night of the Scarecrow, this thread gathers movies where vengeful spirits or supernatural forces punish the guilty. Find similar tales of justice from beyond the grave, featuring tense stalker plots and morally bleak conclusions.

vengefultenseoppressivehauntingparanoidretributionsupernaturalgrim

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear pattern: an initial, often brutal, act of injustice creates a vengeful supernatural entity. This entity then methodically targets the perpetrators, turning their lives into a waking nightmare. The story is driven by a sense of inevitable doom and explores themes of guilt, punishment, and the blurred lines of justice.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on supernatural retribution as a central plot device. They create a specific, chilling vibe where the horror stems not from random evil, but from a deliberate, targeted punishment, blending themes of crime and consequence with supernatural horror elements.

Rural revenge horror movies like Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Tensions boil over in isolated communities, where past sins demand a bloody price.For viewers who enjoyed the small-town vigilante justice and ensuing supernatural payback in Dark Night of the Scarecrow, this collection features similar horror and thriller stories. Discover films where isolated communities become pressure cookers for revenge, buried secrets, and violent reckonings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically unfolds in an isolated community where a facade of normality hides a dark secret. When this secret is threatened or an act of mob justice occurs, it triggers a chain of violent events. The setting itself becomes a character, fostering a sense of claustrophobia and inescapable fate as the past comes back to haunt the present.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a distinct atmosphere created by their rural or small-town settings, which intensify feelings of isolation and paranoia. The combination of vigilante violence, buried secrets, and the subsequent reckoning forms a cohesive narrative and tonal pattern that feels uniquely grim and haunting.

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Dark Night of the Scarecrow Summary

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Dark Night of the Scarecrow Summary

Dark Night of the Scarecrow Timeline

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Dark Night of the Scarecrow Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dark Night of the Scarecrow

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Dark Night of the Scarecrow

More About Dark Night of the Scarecrow

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