Despite the decline in theatrical horror releases during the 1990s, the direct-to-video side of the genre was still thriving. So much so that something like Jeff Burr’s Night of the Scarecrow understandably slipped through the cracks after its unnoticed home-video premiere in ‘96. Even aficionados of this regularly dismissed decade of horror might not be aware of the movie’s existence. Nevertheless, longtime fans still consider this to be one of the more notable offerings of scarecrow horror.
It’s not hard to figure out why Night of the Scarecrow got so lost in the shuffle of ‘90s Dtv horror. Jeff Burr claimed only around 12,000 units were shipped back in the bygone days of video shops. Yet, if you came across this movie’s alluring box art in the horror aisle, you couldn’t be blamed for wanting to take a closer look. The alternative artwork — the titular, sickle-wielding villain...
It’s not hard to figure out why Night of the Scarecrow got so lost in the shuffle of ‘90s Dtv horror. Jeff Burr claimed only around 12,000 units were shipped back in the bygone days of video shops. Yet, if you came across this movie’s alluring box art in the horror aisle, you couldn’t be blamed for wanting to take a closer look. The alternative artwork — the titular, sickle-wielding villain...
- 11/8/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Back when video shops and horror aisles were still common, it was hard not to be creeped out by the classic box art for The Fear. Wooden antagonist Morty attacks onlookers with his unrelenting stare. The tagline “He’s Whatever Scares You The Most” is as intriguing as it is foreboding. And while this 1990s horror oddball has found itself a fanbase over the years — albeit a small one — its sequel continues to go unnoticed. A lot of folks don’t even know it exists to begin with.
Not too long after Morty’s debut, someone gave the mannequin a killer makeover. Whether or not the update was an improvement is arguable, and reviews of this sequel are indeed more negative than that of the original. However, The Fear: Halloween Night has at least one thing its predecessor doesn’t: a clearer sense of identity.
The ‘90s gave rise to...
Not too long after Morty’s debut, someone gave the mannequin a killer makeover. Whether or not the update was an improvement is arguable, and reviews of this sequel are indeed more negative than that of the original. However, The Fear: Halloween Night has at least one thing its predecessor doesn’t: a clearer sense of identity.
The ‘90s gave rise to...
- 10/19/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Jeff Burr, director of “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,” “From a Whisper to a Scream” and “Straight Into Darkness,” has died. He was 60.
Director-writer Jim Wynorski shared the news of Burr’s death on Facebook, writing that he “passed away last night [Oct. 10] in his sleep.”
Burr helmed New Line’s “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,” starring former pro wrestler R.A. Mihailoff as the villain in the 1990 installment. He later directed several entries in the “Pumpkinhead” and “Puppet Master” franchises, including “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings” (1993), “Puppet Master 4” (1993), “Puppet Master 5” (1995) and “Puppet Master: Blitzkrief Massacre” (2018).
Burr was born in Aurora, Ohio, on July 18, 1963, and grew up in Dalton, Ga. He attended USC, but dropped out after his third year alongside fellow director Kevin Meyer to finish their American civil war short “Divided We Fall.” His feature-length directorial debut was 1987’s “From a Whisper to a Scream,” starring Vincent Price, Clu Gulager and Terry Kiser.
Director-writer Jim Wynorski shared the news of Burr’s death on Facebook, writing that he “passed away last night [Oct. 10] in his sleep.”
Burr helmed New Line’s “Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,” starring former pro wrestler R.A. Mihailoff as the villain in the 1990 installment. He later directed several entries in the “Pumpkinhead” and “Puppet Master” franchises, including “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings” (1993), “Puppet Master 4” (1993), “Puppet Master 5” (1995) and “Puppet Master: Blitzkrief Massacre” (2018).
Burr was born in Aurora, Ohio, on July 18, 1963, and grew up in Dalton, Ga. He attended USC, but dropped out after his third year alongside fellow director Kevin Meyer to finish their American civil war short “Divided We Fall.” His feature-length directorial debut was 1987’s “From a Whisper to a Scream,” starring Vincent Price, Clu Gulager and Terry Kiser.
- 10/12/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Jeff Burr, the horror specialist who directed Vincent Price in one of his last movies and entries in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Puppet Master, Pumpkinhead and Stepfather franchises, has died. He was 60.
Burr died Tuesday in his sleep in Dalton, Georgia, of apparent complications from a stroke, his longtime friend, actor Eric Spudic, told The Hollywood Reporter.
After several other directors had dropped out, Burr came aboard at the last minute to helm New Line’s Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990), this installment starring former pro wrestler R.A. Mihailoff as the villain.
He said it took 11 tries before the MPAA would sign off on an ‘R’ rating for the film, which grossed $5.8 million on a $2 million budget.
Burr went on to direct Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1993) and Puppet Master 4 (1993), Puppet Master 5 (1994) and Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre (2018).
Outside of the horror realm, he helmed Eddie Presley (1992), a film about an Elvis...
Burr died Tuesday in his sleep in Dalton, Georgia, of apparent complications from a stroke, his longtime friend, actor Eric Spudic, told The Hollywood Reporter.
After several other directors had dropped out, Burr came aboard at the last minute to helm New Line’s Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990), this installment starring former pro wrestler R.A. Mihailoff as the villain.
He said it took 11 tries before the MPAA would sign off on an ‘R’ rating for the film, which grossed $5.8 million on a $2 million budget.
Burr went on to direct Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1993) and Puppet Master 4 (1993), Puppet Master 5 (1994) and Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre (2018).
Outside of the horror realm, he helmed Eddie Presley (1992), a film about an Elvis...
- 10/12/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bloody Disgusting has learned the sad news tonight that prolific horror filmmaker Jeff Burr, who notably directed Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, has passed away.
Jeff Burr was just 60 years old.
Prior to making his mark on the Chainsaw franchise with the fan favorite third installment, Jeff Burr directed 1987’s Vincent Price-starring From a Whisper to a Scream and 1989’s Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy. He later directed 1993 sequel Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.
Jeff Burr’s directorial credits also include 1990s horror movies Puppet Master 4, Puppet Master 5, and Night of the Scarecrow, as well as The Werewolf Reborn!, Phantom Town, The Boy With the X-Ray Eyes, Straight into Darkness, Devil’s Den, Resurrection, Gun of the Black Sun, Tornado Warning, and in more recent years, Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre.
Friend/writer Shane Bitterling writes on Twitter tonight, “Just got an awful phone call. One I’ve had far too many of recently.
Jeff Burr was just 60 years old.
Prior to making his mark on the Chainsaw franchise with the fan favorite third installment, Jeff Burr directed 1987’s Vincent Price-starring From a Whisper to a Scream and 1989’s Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy. He later directed 1993 sequel Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.
Jeff Burr’s directorial credits also include 1990s horror movies Puppet Master 4, Puppet Master 5, and Night of the Scarecrow, as well as The Werewolf Reborn!, Phantom Town, The Boy With the X-Ray Eyes, Straight into Darkness, Devil’s Den, Resurrection, Gun of the Black Sun, Tornado Warning, and in more recent years, Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre.
Friend/writer Shane Bitterling writes on Twitter tonight, “Just got an awful phone call. One I’ve had far too many of recently.
- 10/11/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
We got some sad news today as we have learned that director Jeff Burr, best known for Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Stepfather II, Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings, and more, has died. He was just 60 years old.
Like many future horror directors, Jeff Burr grew up reading horror magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland and making his own Super-8 movies. He later attended the University of Southern California but dropped out after his third year to finish his American Civil War drama Divided We Fall with co-director Kevin Meyer. His second feature found him entering the world of horror, and he scored a superstar of the genre to star in it: The one and only Vincent Price.
From a Whisper to a Scream was a horror anthology movie which featured Vincent Price as a historian who tells four tales to a journalist, all of which take place in the small town of Oldfield,...
Like many future horror directors, Jeff Burr grew up reading horror magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland and making his own Super-8 movies. He later attended the University of Southern California but dropped out after his third year to finish his American Civil War drama Divided We Fall with co-director Kevin Meyer. His second feature found him entering the world of horror, and he scored a superstar of the genre to star in it: The one and only Vincent Price.
From a Whisper to a Scream was a horror anthology movie which featured Vincent Price as a historian who tells four tales to a journalist, all of which take place in the small town of Oldfield,...
- 10/11/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
In today's installment of Horror Highlights, we have details on the Haunt Collector's Edition Blu-ray release, the short film The Drawer that you can watch right now, and trailers for Triggered and Noise in the Middle!
Haunt Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Los Angeles, CA - Ronin Flix, in partnership with Momentum Pictures, is releasing a new 2 Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the “grisly horror gem” from the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Eli Roth, Haunt (2019), just in time for Halloween. Available on Blu-ray for the first time, the commemorative 2 disc set will treat fans to the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring the eerie costume masks worn by the villains in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features including a New To Escape the Haunt: The Making of Haunt featurette.
Haunt Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Los Angeles, CA - Ronin Flix, in partnership with Momentum Pictures, is releasing a new 2 Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the “grisly horror gem” from the writers of A Quiet Place and producer Eli Roth, Haunt (2019), just in time for Halloween. Available on Blu-ray for the first time, the commemorative 2 disc set will treat fans to the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring the eerie costume masks worn by the villains in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features including a New To Escape the Haunt: The Making of Haunt featurette.
- 10/5/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Hammer and Horror Film Day!
Saturday November the 9th ( 10am – 5pm )
Central Hall Westminster.
Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9Nh
UK’s longest running film fair and convention.
Now in it’s 40th year!
The Convention presents dealers from all over the UK, Europe, Us ,
Canada and South America.
Specialising in rare original film memorabilia and collectables.
Taking place six times a year these are truly unique events for anyone with an interest in films!
With actors and director’s signings, illustrated talks, retrospectives and film screenings taking place through out the day.
Items covering the history of cinema can be found. From the silents to the present.
From rare items of the 1920’s to new releases and the latest heart throb.
Among the many different field of cinema covered at the show is – Classic Hollywood, horror films, sci-fi, the best of British and European cinema as we as cult tv!
Saturday November the 9th ( 10am – 5pm )
Central Hall Westminster.
Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9Nh
UK’s longest running film fair and convention.
Now in it’s 40th year!
The Convention presents dealers from all over the UK, Europe, Us ,
Canada and South America.
Specialising in rare original film memorabilia and collectables.
Taking place six times a year these are truly unique events for anyone with an interest in films!
With actors and director’s signings, illustrated talks, retrospectives and film screenings taking place through out the day.
Items covering the history of cinema can be found. From the silents to the present.
From rare items of the 1920’s to new releases and the latest heart throb.
Among the many different field of cinema covered at the show is – Classic Hollywood, horror films, sci-fi, the best of British and European cinema as we as cult tv!
- 9/28/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
This week: The romantic comedy gets an Oscar-winning upgrade with "Silver Linings Playbook," starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.
Also new this week is Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe in the police drama "Broken City," Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in the road-trip comedy "The Guilt Trip" and the coming-of-age rock 'n' roll drama "Not Fade Away."
'Silver Linings Playbook'
Box Office: $131 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Fresh
Storyline: This acclaimed David O. Russell romantic comedy stars Bradley Cooper as Pat Solatano, a guy who just got out of an eight-month stay at a psychiatric institution and has moved back in with this parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver). Pat is hell-bent on reuniting with his estranged wife; his parents just want him to share their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles and get back on his feet. Pat then meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman...
Also new this week is Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe in the police drama "Broken City," Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in the road-trip comedy "The Guilt Trip" and the coming-of-age rock 'n' roll drama "Not Fade Away."
'Silver Linings Playbook'
Box Office: $131 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Fresh
Storyline: This acclaimed David O. Russell romantic comedy stars Bradley Cooper as Pat Solatano, a guy who just got out of an eight-month stay at a psychiatric institution and has moved back in with this parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver). Pat is hell-bent on reuniting with his estranged wife; his parents just want him to share their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles and get back on his feet. Pat then meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman...
- 4/29/2013
- by Robert DeSalvo
- NextMovie
Olive Films has announced that it will release 1995’s Night Of The Scarecrow April 30 on DVD and Blu-ray, both in anamorphic widescreen with special features to be announced. Directed by Jeff Burr of Stepfather II and The Offspring and scripted by Reed Steiner and Dan Mazur, the film takes place in a small town where partying teenagers accidentally free an evil spirit that takes over a nearby scarecrow, which sets out on a vengeful murder spree. Elizabeth Barondes and John Mese star, and the cool supporting cast includes Office Space’s Stephen Root, veteran character actors Bruce Glover and Dirk Blocker, 2001: A Space Odyssey’s Gary Lockwood, future Oscar nominee John Hawkes and Hammer glamour gal Martine Beswick. Retail prices are $24.95 for the DVD, $29.95 for the Blu-ray.
- 2/27/2013
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Olive Films has announced that it will release 1995’s Night Of The Scarecrow April 30 on DVD and Blu-ray, both in anamorphic widescreen with special features to be announced. Directed by Jeff Burr of Stepfather II and The Offspring and scripted by Reed Steiner and Dan Mazur, the film takes place in a small town where partying teenagers accidentally free an evil spirit that takes over a nearby scarecrow, which sets out on a vengeful murder spree. Elizabeth Barondes and John Mese star, and the cool supporting cast includes Office Space’s Stephen Root, veteran character actors Bruce Glover and Dirk Blocker, 2001: A Space Odyssey’s Gary Lockwood, future Oscar nominee John Hawkes and Hammer glamour gal Martine Beswick. Retail prices are $24.95 for the DVD, $29.95 for the Blu-ray.
- 2/27/2013
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Olive Films has announced that it will release 1995’s Night Of The Scarecrow April 30 on DVD and Blu-ray, both in anamorphic widescreen with special features to be announced. Directed by Jeff Burr of Stepfather II and The Offspring and scripted by Reed Steiner and Dan Mazur, the film takes place in a small town where partying teenagers accidentally free an evil spirit that takes over a nearby scarecrow, which sets out on a vengeful murder spree. Elizabeth Barondes and John Mese star, and the cool supporting cast includes Office Space’s Stephen Root, veteran character actors Bruce Glover and Dirk Blocker, 2001: A Space Odyssey’s Gary Lockwood, future Oscar nominee John Hawkes and Hammer glamour gal Martine Beswick. Retail prices are $24.95 for the DVD, $29.95 for the Blu-ray.
- 2/27/2013
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Olive Films has announced that it will release 1995’s Night Of The Scarecrow April 30 on DVD and Blu-ray, both in anamorphic widescreen with special features to be announced. Directed by Jeff Burr of Stepfather II and The Offspring and scripted by Reed Steiner and Dan Mazur, the film takes place in a small town where partying teenagers accidentally free an evil spirit that takes over a nearby scarecrow, which sets out on a vengeful murder spree. Elizabeth Barondes and John Mese star, and the cool supporting cast includes Office Space’s Stephen Root, veteran character actors Bruce Glover and Dirk Blocker, 2001: A Space Odyssey’s Gary Lockwood, future Oscar nominee John Hawkes and Hammer glamour gal Martine Beswick. Retail prices are $24.95 for the DVD, $29.95 for the Blu-ray.
- 2/27/2013
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Scarecrows can be pretty damn creepy. Creepy enough that there is kind of a sub-genre of killer scarecrow movies. Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981), Night of the Scarecrow (1995), Scarecrows (1988), even scarecrow episodes from horror based series like Friday the 13th: The Series and Supernatural. They were built and designed to be scary.
After Dark Films brings us Husk as part of this years After Dark Originals. The story is about 5 friends on a road trip when an accident leaves them stranded on a lonesome highway next to an unending cornfield, in which lurks something evil. Oh… and there is an abandoned farm house. Sound familiar? It should, it’s a pretty common set-up. But that’s all it is, a setup. A starting point for a story. Where it goes from there is the meat and potatoes. From this point on, Husk shines.
Husk stands out for me as...
After Dark Films brings us Husk as part of this years After Dark Originals. The story is about 5 friends on a road trip when an accident leaves them stranded on a lonesome highway next to an unending cornfield, in which lurks something evil. Oh… and there is an abandoned farm house. Sound familiar? It should, it’s a pretty common set-up. But that’s all it is, a setup. A starting point for a story. Where it goes from there is the meat and potatoes. From this point on, Husk shines.
Husk stands out for me as...
- 4/4/2011
- by Dave
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
It is that time of year again when Dread Central pays its respects to those who have worked in our beloved genre and made it to the red carpet on Oscar night 2011. The genre was in rare form when it came to the nominations. Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan was up for the gold in multiple categories (best picture, best actress, cinematography, and direction); even The Wolfman was on the short-list for best make-up. And win we did.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because therein lie the gems of VHS past for a large share of both the winners and folks who were nominated. Highlights include a win for Melissa Leo (nominated two years ago for Frozen River), whom we remember best as Judith 'MaMa' Baer in Deadtime Stories. And who could forget Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho? My fellow fright fiends, he brought home the gold last night.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because therein lie the gems of VHS past for a large share of both the winners and folks who were nominated. Highlights include a win for Melissa Leo (nominated two years ago for Frozen River), whom we remember best as Judith 'MaMa' Baer in Deadtime Stories. And who could forget Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho? My fellow fright fiends, he brought home the gold last night.
- 3/1/2011
- by Heather Buckley
- DreadCentral.com
So, a new trailer for a new Scarecrow-horror movie called Husk is up and about. It's kind of just like every other Scarecrow-horror movie you've ever seen, but maybe not as good as Dark Night of the Scarecrow.
Because No scarecrow horror movie can ever beat Dark Night of the Scarecrow.
Husk seems to have atmosphere and some recognizable actors (you know, it has That Hot Guy from Harper's Island) and isn't absolutely vile at first glance. It certainly looks better than, say, Scarecrow, Scarecrows, Night of the Scarecrow, Hallowed Ground, or Revenge of the Scarecrow.
I'm just kind of disappointed because, well, I've seen like 90 scarecrow-horror films, and none of them are that good, and here is After Dark pretending this is some kind of original idea. We know it's not, After Dark. I've also seen That Shot of the isolated country house - what? - 200 times in the...
Because No scarecrow horror movie can ever beat Dark Night of the Scarecrow.
Husk seems to have atmosphere and some recognizable actors (you know, it has That Hot Guy from Harper's Island) and isn't absolutely vile at first glance. It certainly looks better than, say, Scarecrow, Scarecrows, Night of the Scarecrow, Hallowed Ground, or Revenge of the Scarecrow.
I'm just kind of disappointed because, well, I've seen like 90 scarecrow-horror films, and none of them are that good, and here is After Dark pretending this is some kind of original idea. We know it's not, After Dark. I've also seen That Shot of the isolated country house - what? - 200 times in the...
- 1/13/2011
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Among the eight films debuting in theaters January 28 from After Dark Originals , one is going to take another stab at the scarecrow sub-genre. Hear that groan? It's the sound of horror fans collectively reflecting on dour scarecrow fare like 1995's Night of the Scarecrow or 2004's Scarecrow Gone Wild . Granted, fans have had to take the good ( Dark Night of the Scarecrow ) with the bad ( Messengers 2: The Scarecrow ), and Brett Simmons, the director of the upcoming Husk , is well aware of this. With his film, he hopes to remove the stigma usually afflicting scarecrow-themed horror stories. Simmons film began as a short that played to Sundance audiences. When After Dark came a-callin', he was given a chance to expand the Husk 's story and attach Wes Chatham, Devon Graye...
- 12/29/2010
- shocktillyoudrop.com
After the Academy’s attempt at honoring genre during the live show, we saw a real tribute to horror by someone who is truly one of our own. Bob Murawski thanked Sam Raimi for giving him his “first cutting job” in Army of Darkness. His Best Editing award for Hurt Locker was shared by his partner Chris Innis, whom he met on the Raimi produced TV show “American Gothic.”
I gotta say, never since Peter Jackson’s (who was nominated this year for District 9) thank you to the crew of Meet the Feebles has there been such an excellent genre shout out.
On top of working with Raimi for over a decade, Murawski also runs Grindhouse Releasing, which distributes and restores cult and horror films with a focus on extreme Italian cinema. Pieces, The Beyond, Cannibal Holocaust, and I Drink Your Blood are just a few names you’ll find in Grindhouse Releasing's catalogue.
I gotta say, never since Peter Jackson’s (who was nominated this year for District 9) thank you to the crew of Meet the Feebles has there been such an excellent genre shout out.
On top of working with Raimi for over a decade, Murawski also runs Grindhouse Releasing, which distributes and restores cult and horror films with a focus on extreme Italian cinema. Pieces, The Beyond, Cannibal Holocaust, and I Drink Your Blood are just a few names you’ll find in Grindhouse Releasing's catalogue.
- 3/11/2010
- by Heather Buckley
- DreadCentral.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.