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PSYCHO SCARECROW
Produced by Tim Merkel and Steve Galler
Directed by Steve Galler
Written by Octavio Medieros and James Cullen
Edited by Lascell Nelson
Director of Photography - M. ValiosJones - Joe Parro
Hammond - Tim Vince
Floyd - Mike Upmalis
Sheila - Tracey Rankin
Eric - Doug MillerA beautiful young woman throws herself out of her high-rise apartment window. Hours later two detectives, one a cynical, hardened veteran, the other younger and more open-minded, try to piece together what led to the suicide. There only lead is an audiocassette found in the woman's apartment detailing a story of murder and the supernatural.
It's the woman's voice on the tape that narrates PSYCHO SCARECROW, lending a SUNSET BOULAVARD feel. From the title, you shouldn't have any problem guessing what drove her over the edge. And yes, this guy's looking for a heart, or two, but this sure as hell ain't OZ. The yellow brick road was paved with good intentions, the road to hell was paved by the damned.
Floyd is a semi-outcast, even among his small group of "friends", he's the pre-requisite geek who's kept around to help everyone else feel better about themselves, including Eric, the group's unofficial leader. After a night of drunken partying at an abandoned farm, Lloyd is accidentally killed by one of his "friends". To hide their crime, the gang stuffs his body in an old scarecrow somewhere out in the back 30. It isn't long before ancient tribal magic brings Floyd back to life for a little revenge against the white man.
My rule of thumb is that a slasher movie is only as good as the slasher himself. If the killer is dull and boring, chances are the movie will be too. Generally, you've got two types of slashers, brooding and menacing or stand-up comics. Robert Englund was able to play Freddy Kruger as both, few actors are able to pull it off quite like Robert. Director Steve Galler knows that to make a lasting horror film you have to either deliver the scares, or be thoroughly entertaining. He does both.
If you've ever seen the underrated 80's horror classic SCARECROWS, you have an idea how the premise is treated here: chilling, moody horror with the perfect touch of camp. That's where some modern b-horror films go wrong, they forget the camp. Titles hitting the rental shelves, like RUPUNZIL or PINOCCHIO, don't take into consideration the ludicrous nature of their premise. At least the LEPRAKHAN series had the good sense to go Elm Street and lighten its tone.
The voice on the tape belongs to Sheila, the object of Floyd's affections. Tracey Rankin as Sheila is the real star of the movie. Hers' is the only character with any true arc. At one time vapid and shallow, Sheila learns too late that appearances are deceiving. What's on the outside doesn't always reflect what's on the inside. Like all horror heroines, she learns the hardway. In the end she finds that hell hath no fury like a lovelorn scarecrow scorned.
PSYCHO SCARECROW is about as good a movie about a psycho scarecrow as your going to get. Not exactly perfect, but entertaining and satisfying. In today's market where most horror films are pure garbage, PSYCHO SCARECROW is one film that surpasses expectations and delivers.