A problem with feeding on so much fictional horror content - as I do - is that often you can have a sense of déjà vu. This happened with 'Curse of the Scarecrow' - about half way through, I wondered if I had seen it before and had forgotten. The film I was actually thinking of was 2019's 'Tooth Fairy', which in turn had reminded me strongly of 2018's 'Scarecrow Rising'. They had all been directed by Louisa Warren, often using many of the same players and locations.
Warren, like Andrew Jones, has proven to be a prolific director (and occasionally actor) of micro-budget horror films. Also like Jones, she seems to have liking for dolls and scarecrows as villainous beings. Once more we have a predominantly female cast menaced by a bloke with a sack on his head. The three main women are flawed - in fact, apart from June (Kate Lister), quite hapless. The peripheral male characters are wetter than wet.
The production is afflicted as low-budget films often are, and none of this would matter at all if the story or characters were in any way interesting. Sadly, despite some competent performances, they are not, and the dullness that hits you after the pre-credit sequence begins is never fully shaken off. If we could care more for the characters, and not have their various plights and tragedies overtly hurled at us, then things would be a lot more successful. As it is, Warren's films have thus far been interesting without being compelling (of the ones I have seen).
There are a few good scenes. Nancy (Warren) being stuffed with straw is my favourite. With less restraint on blood and gore, it would have been even more effective. The ending is satisfying and seems to be setting things up for a possible sequel. My score is 5 out of 10.
