The Scarecrow

Praising novel The Scarecrow, one critic argued that author Ronald Hugh Morrieson had melded genres together into “a brilliant, hallucinatory mixture distinctively his own". The movie adaptation is another unusual melding; a coming-of-age tale awash with comedy, nostalgia, and a touch of the gothic. Taranaki teen Ned (Jono Smith) is worried that the mysterious arrival in town (US acting legend John Carradine) has murderous designs on his sister. The masterful narration is by Martyn Sanderson. The result: the first Kiwi film to win official selection at the Cannes Film Festival.

The same night our fowls were stolen, Daphne Moran had her throat cut.

– Martyn Sanderson, narrating a slightly reworded version of author Ronald Hugh Morrieson's famous opening line

Key Cast & Crew

Sam Pillsbury

Director, Associate Producer, Writer

Bruce Allpress

As: Uncle Athol

Martyn Sanderson

Narrator (Ned as adult)

Jono Smith

As: Ned Poindexter

Ronald Hugh Morrieson

Original Author

Rob Whitehouse

Producer