Whenever one drives past the vast landscape of hundreds of rows of towering cornfields regardless if it’s fresh green or wilted brown stalks the same thoughts often occur what a place for a horror scene. Director Brett Simmons (Animal [2014]) thought the same thing, first with his short film Husk (2005) and later the full production, done in 18-days but not released to 2011, dedicated to his work; which was a remake of Scarecrows [1988]. However, Brett did incorporate a few elements into this movie to keep it entertaining amongst them obvious cornfields and scarecrows with inspiration coming from Dark Night of the Scarecrow [1981]; incorporated the trope of ‘Old Dark House’ and a tinge of religious horror. It is this last item that he should have exploited a tad further, but without the pageantry; because in the film a board reads GEN 4:11, for those unaware, this is Genesis Chapter 4, verse 11 (shall be discussed soon enough.)
A group of five friends, drive down a lonesome road surrounded by cornfields in rural Nebraska when suddenly a flock of black birds descend upon their SUV, resulting in a crash and unconsciousness. When they awaken, Johnny (Ben Easter (I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer [2006])) is missing, hence Brian (Wes Chatham (The Town That Dreaded Sundown [2014])) and brainiac Scott (Devon Graye (13 Sins [2014])) venture into the cornfield as they see a lonesome farmhouse in the distance. Meanwhile Brian leaves his girlfriend Natalie (Tammin Sursok (Albino Farm [2009])) and buddy Chris (CJ Thompson (Aftermath [2014])) with his car, they reach the building realizing it is in a wretched state of disrepair but hear an odd sound from upstairs. In a careful and suspenseful moment, they find a mutilated Johnny sewing a mask. A sudden scream from Natalie as she enters the cornfield and Johnny stops all goes dark. Chris finds Natalie’s lifeless body and flees in stark terror to the sight. Brian is also attacked, and runs back to the house, which appears as an odd safe zone.
C.J. Thomason
Strangely Scott begins to have hallucinates about a farmer, Mr. Comstock (Mike Cornelison (Superstition [1982])) who physically and mentally abuses his son Corey (Joshua Skipworth) and favoring his other son Alex (Nick Toussaint). In response Corey kills Alex in a jealous rage with a pitchfork, and dresses him as scarecrow with a mask that he sewn together. Alex’s blood drips into the soil damning everything. By the third act there’s plenty of death, and few ways to combat the scarecrows body-swapping however survival looms in the distance and soon it’s time to harvest more souls. Who is next to reap what has been sewn?
Tammin Sursok
There’re quite a few positives for the film Simmons gives an interesting backstory that generates understanding of the mythos of the scarecrow supernatural abilities, which pulls the viewer to the accept the storyline. He adds into both well-designed action sequences that develop tension and layers some gore moments, though nothing bordering of grotesque.
Recalling the biblical versus previously mention, it references the story about Cain murdering his brother Abel due to The Lord showing favoritism to Abel and presenting him with better crops and livestock. Abel’s blood sours the ground and damns Cain’s existence in life and for all eternity. Hence the backstory involves a Mr. Comstock (Mike Cornelison) showering favoritism to Alex (Nick Toussaint) over his brother Corey (Joshua Skipworth), The presence of the black birds might indulge to Isaiah 34:11, paraphrases “…God’s judgement for land of ruin, false creation, no fertile ground…”
I have always enjoyed scarecrow films, watching the inanimate figure terrorize anyone is fun, and Simmons weaves a good story with fine cinematography. Yes, there are predictable moments and familiar tropes, but they are overlooked in exchange for crafty remake, which frankly puts quite a bit of distance between his creation and that one from 1988.
TAGLINE: Join the harvest
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504403/
IMDb Rating: 5.1/10
Baron’s Rating: 5.0/10