For a generation of 1980s kids raised on Worzel Gummidge, scarecrows are quite alarming enough already. For the independent British team Bloody Cuts however, they're the basis of something far more genuinely scary (and presumably with fewer cream cake fights). After a popular series of short films, the horror collective will make its feature debut with Scarecrows.
Debuting in June last year, Bloody Cuts is an anthology series (as well as the name of the production company) aiming for 13 instalments, of which six have surfaced so far. Available to watch free on the Bloody Cuts website, the films have attracted around a quarter of a million views online, successfully hit the festival circuit, and picked up glowing notices from the likes of Fangoria and Ain't It Cool News. Stephen Fry is also a fan, to the extent that he generously threw some of his own money at their tight production funds.
Scarecrows' goofy premise involves criminals hiding out on a remote farm, and somehow unleashing ancient powers that animate vengeful straw men. Should've stayed orf their laand. The film will be directed by Neill Gorton, who made Bloody Cuts' fourth episode Mother Dies, but is currently best known as the head of Millennium FX. His special effects make-up work has graced the likes of Saving Private Ryan and Being Human, and he's won BAFTAs for his work on Doctor Who, and on the Paul Whitehouse series Help.
The film is written by series regular Joel Morgan, and produced by BC's Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton, with Jonathan Sothcott and Simon Phillips from second production company CHATA Pictures. Shooting is pencilled in for next year.
In the meantime, check out the Bloody Cuts shorts to prime yourselves. Dead Man's Lake (pictured above) is the most recent, and the seventh, a twisty crime-horror called Death Scenes, is due imminently.