THE STORY: I would like to thank the makers of this film. It wasn't bad...and I'd like to thank them for (as far as my knowledge) not making hokey direct to video sequels.

Claire Goodman, a beautiful young woman returns to her hometown, Hanford, and makes a horrible discovery. In the pioneer days her family founded this town...the earth was dry and hard to farm...her ancestor, Silas Goodman made a deal with a warlock to save the town. The warlock used his magic to make the crops plentiful but in return he was to be left to his own devices. In time the warlock's hedonistic lifestyle and satanic rituals became too dangerous. Silas, in desperation, arranged to dispose of him by stealing his book of magic and sealing him, crucified, in a tomb underneath a cornfield. In the present (well the 90's) local troublemaker, Danny, breaks the tomb open by accident. The warlock's spirit infests a scarecrow in the field. The evil scarecrow goes on a destructive quest to recover the book of magic that the Goodman family has kept hidden. Claire's father, William Goodman is the mayor of Hanford, and refutes any supernatural agent is responsible for the murders in the town, even though the victims are his own brother, George (a farmer) and his niece, Stephanie, the daughter of his brother Thaddeus, the town preacher. The scarecrow attacks Thaddeus but doesn't kill him...it sews his mouth shut. Thaddeus escapes the scarecrow and seeks out Claire and her new boyfriend, Dillon Hale. He explains the story of the warlock. Dillon takes Thaddeus home but shortly after Thaddeus discovers that the scarecrow has killed his wife and is still in the house. This time the scarecrow kills him. Frank, the sheriff (and a Goodman brother) arrests Dillon in suspicion for the murders. But Frank discovers the truth when he finds William dead and Claire tells him the warlock story. Together they find the book of magic, but the scarecrow arrives and kills Frank. Dillon and Claire go through the usual run for your life antics from the monster and figure out the way to destroy him is to destroy his mortal remains. After a few typical close calls, Dillon achieves this goal.The scarecrow explodes into smithereens and the town is saved.

To me a supernatural killer movie has to do at least one thing different to not be a piece of crap. Do something for me! Startle me a little. This movie did that but only by a little (very little...a miniscule amount really, but it passed). Its hard to explain why, but I really liked the scarecrow. I figured he'd just be like a crazy slasher but he had magic powers too. Of course he didn't use them as well as he should have, or he would have won, but it was interesting. the actor that plays Thaddeus is Bruce Glover...he played a preacher in Warlock: The Armageddon. Talk about typecast.

Best Lines: "Fooled Ya!"- the scarecrow. Thaddeus brandishes a cross at him and at first it looks like the scarecrow is frightened of it. Then he straightens up and lets Thaddeus know he was only kidding and he is indeed, going to kill him.

1.) whoa...the moon is moving real fast in the scene when the Scarecrow comes to life.

2.) How can anyone think that George's death was an accident? Did he accidentally pin himself to a wall with a pitchfork? Did he accidentally drive a big ass farm chopping type thing into himself?

3.) Danny talks a lot of crap for a guy that's not that big or threatening. He keeps Dillon from kicking his ass by the threat that his father is some bigwig in the town. I say FUNK DAT! He's a little weasel looking guy. I could break him half without breaking a sweat. Dillon should have splattered him in the bar room scene since there were witnesses to attest to the fact that Danny started it...but then, why bother? As the movies official BDJ (Big Dumb Jerk, though he isn't that big) Danny meets an untimely and grisly demise.

4.) Only in movies can slimeballs like Danny score with good lookin' chick's like Stephanie. Though she has a small part, Stephanie is the movies  official SSC. (Super Slutty Chick...she wasn't a bitch so she isn't the BWBT)   But still, Stephanie is the preachers daughter, is very good looking, and has really big boobs. Why would she sleep with a scumbag like Danny? Ladies, help me here! If you have any idea why this happens in movies and sometimes in real life, Email the Inferno! I think I speak for most men when I say I REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

5.) When Thaddeus finds Claire and Dillon he figures out that the scarecrow is after his wife Barbara. the scarecrow gets there first, before he does. Why didn't;'t he just CALL Barbara on this wonderful invention called a telephone and warn her?

6.) How come the scarecrow didn't use his magic powers to stop Claire from getting away with the magic book? He pulled some incredible tricks on Thaddeus in a church! He could have stopped her! But then the movie would have been short.

7.) As in typical movie fashion, the police cars that Dillon and Claire commandeer to escape the scarecrow have a problem starting. Now, one police car and a civilian car I could buy...but two police cars in a row have bad starters when the scarecrow is chasing them? Nah, I don't buy it. That's bull[unwrite].

8.) The scarecrow throws a sickle at the police car as Dillon and Claire escape and hits Dillon...it must have been at least 50 yards at a moving target! Damn!

NUDITY AND SEX: Stephanie bears her ample bosom in her scene with Danny.

HUH?: After the scarecrow sews Thaddues' mouth shut, ol' Thad  goes to Dillon and Claire who are getting jiggy with it in a hotel room. How'd he find them? Obviously they went to the hotel not to be found. Besides, if a magic scarecrow sewed your mouth shut wouldn't you go to a hospital or emergency room or maybe the police first instead of wandering around to find your niece in a hotel making the beast with two backs?

Danny and Stephanie are getting it on in Danny's van. Steph's boobs are out. Danny steps outside to get a beer (from a well...do people do that?) The Scarecrow knocks him out and goes to the van...Stephanie's bra is back on.  Why would she put it back on? She's waiting for lovemaster Danny to come in and get busy.

After Danny wakes up and watches Stephanie die, he runs and hides behind some haystacks. The Scarecrow materialzes out of the hay and kills him. But why did the Scarecrow wait? He could have killed Danny while the little [unwrite] was getting his beer out of the well.

Dillon discovers how to kill the scarecrow by reading a few pages in the magic book for two minutes! Imagine if it was written in latin or some other language! It may have taken him (snicker) five minutes!

THE TALLY: Not a bad movie but no horror classic. If you're looking for a good Halloween night movie this might be your bet.