SCARECROWS

Instead of cabin-in-the-woods horror, it’s cornfield-in-the-woods

Two teen couples in a rural area outside Toronto search for a hidden lagoon amidst the cornfields to par-tay. Unfortunately for them they disregard the ‘No Trespassing’ sign.

"Scarecrows" (2018) takes the plot of “Wolf Creek” (2005) and throws in elements of “Husk” (2011) and “Scarecrow” (2013). Sure, it’s low-budget, formulaic and predictable, but it’s well executed, morbidly beautiful and includes at least one genuine surprise. Meanwhile the score & soundtrack are worthy. I think it’s better to do the same-old/same-old effectively than try to reinvent the wheel and epically fail.

Director/co-writer Stu Stone knows how to make the most of a limited setting & cast for some aesthetically pleasing cinematography, including numerous shots of beautiful Maaor Ziv, who plays Devon; winsome Hannah Gordon too, but less so. As for the guys, Mike Taylor (Farbsie) is reminiscent of a younger, shorter Chris Pine. Umed Amin (Ely) is also on hand.

The film runs 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot in Markham & Goodwood, Ontario, both just northeast of Toronto.

GRADE: B