Hallowed Ground (film)
Encyclopedia
Hallowed Ground is a 2007 horror
thriller film, released on October 9, 2007. It went direct-to-video
and was first aired on Sci-Fi Channel
in the USA.
) discovers her arrival was foretold a century earlier by the town's founding preacher
(Ethan Phillips
) and that she is an integral part of his impending--and terrifying--rebirth.
After her car breaks down, Liz is forced to stay overnight in the town
of Hope while the local mechanic
orders a replacement part. Hungry, she takes a seat in the booth of the nearby diner
. The clientele and the waitresses alike stare at her. As she awaits her order, a blonde takes the seat opposite Liz, introducing herself as Sarah Austin (Hudson Leick
), a reporter for a tabloid newspaper
. She is in town to investigate legends of living scarecrows--men, women, and children who were nailed to crosses in a cornfield to frighten away the crows. According to Sarah, the townspeople of Hope once sacrificed people by nailing them to crosses in the cornfields until a young girl ran away and alerted residents of the nearby town of Liberty. Who, horrified and outraged to learn of the multiple murders going on right next door, nailed the local preacher who spearheaded the sacrifices to a cross in the same cornfield in which he had murdered his many victims. And legend
contends that one day he will be reborn.
Sarah persuades Liz to accompany her to the cornfield. They enter the farmhouse
next to the field
, and Sarah takes several photographs of its interior, and of the many crows that seem to haunt the place. They then enter the cornfield itself, where Sarah takes more pictures of a scarecrow that she and Liz construct and hang on a cross
, intending to use the photograph for the newspaper's front page
. When Liz retreats into the cornrows to urinate, Sarah is attacked and killed by the scarecrow, which comes to life and tears itself from its cross. The scarecrow tries to kill Liz as well, but a deputy arrives, and although he is killed by the scarecrow, Liz manages to escape in the squad car.
She drives to the sheriff's office, where she tells her tale
, and the Sheriff O'Connor (Brian McNamara
) leaves with a shotgun
to visit the crime scene
and retrieve the corpse of his deputy, leaving Liz in the care of his other deputy, whom he tells to request backup. When the deputy is unable to reach anyone by radio or telephone, he leaves Liz alone while he goes to find out what the problem is. Liz arms herself with a shotgun, and, using it, is able to fend off the scarecrow when it arrives at the sheriff’s office, stalking her. After believing to have taken out the scarecrow as she thought it was a costume at this point Liz walks outside to find a body however she finds a scarecrow arm she had shot off and the scarecrow sneaks up behind her, getting one good shot at him the gun then runs out of ammo. She tries to flee in her car, hoping that it has been repaired, but it won't start. Looking under the hood, she sees that the engine
has been removed.
She takes refuge with the town's preacher, but, when she finds a book
explaining the scarecrow's origin and nature, she discovers that the preacher is the leader of the townspeople, who worship the spirit
of the founding preacher that now dwells inside the scarecrow she and sarah created. The preacher intends to bring the spirit back to life by fathering a child
by Liz, whom the spirit can possess. The sheriff, who is not a native of the area, but moved there to get away from the mean streets of the city
in which he had previously been a lawman, arrives in time to stop the townspeople, but he loses consciousness in the car crash that occurs when a truck
driver, following them, rams his squad car, running it off the road
and into the cornfield. The preacher and the townspeople return to Hope with Liz. When the clergyman tries to rape her, she smothers him with a pillow
and escapes through the window
in the bedroom's rear wall.
As she flees from her pursuers, she finds Sabrina (Chloe Moretz
), a young girl
in hiding in the underground shelter the group of townspeople originally hid in. Her parents were killed by the scarecrow, but she escaped and hid. Meanwhile, in accordance with the instructions in the book, the townspeople, now led by the mechanic, Earl (Jim Cody Williams), who was supposed to repair Liz's car,set out in search of Liz. Afraid the girl will slow her down, Liz hides Sabrina in a hole in the cornfield while she goes for help. She makes it to the next town only to find everyone's dead. She is picked up by the sheriff, who escaped the townspeople, and Liz tells him about Sabrina and jokes that the townspeople think she is a virgin. When they return to the cornfield, ostensibly to retrieve Sabrina, Liz discovers that the sheriff has been possessed by the spirit of the Preacher. When asked why he cant just keep this body he explains that because it is dead it would decay and have bugs all over it within hours.
The Preacher now goes in search of the girl as he tells the townspeople Liz is no good as she is not pure but as they search the girl sneaks into the farmhouse with a lighter that Liz had given her earlier and uses a part of her doll to set the house on fire, after the A takes notice he finds Sabrina and Liz but Liz is able to kill him with a pitchfork. The townspeople crowd around but let Liz and Sabrina go as they burn the body of the Preacher as the prophecy tells them too.
Liz flees with the girl, but the spirit of the Preacher possesses the body of Sabrina's father
, which they encounter hanging on one of the many crosses in the cornfield. Vines ensnare Liz while the animated corpse of Sabrina's father appeals to the girl to help him. At first, Sabrina believes that the possessed corpse is her father, despite Liz's insistence that it is not, and she walks toward him as he hangs upon the cross. However, when he tears himself from the cross, speaks to her in a demonic voice
, and she sees a nail through his hand
, Sabrina runs to Liz.
A murder of crows appear in the sky and the townspeople, believe it is a good omen, until the crows attack and kill them as well as attacking Sabrina's father, allowing Liz to extract herself from the vines.
After that, we see the preacher still in Sabrina's father's body move a few fingers ,meanwhile Liz and Sabrina escape, hitching a ride from a truck driver (William Stanford Davis)who is passing through the area. He turns on the radio
, and a song comes on that reminds Liz and Sabrina of their ordeal
. Liz turns the radio off, and the driver and the two hitchhikers, Liz and Sabrina, continue down the road, leaving Hope behind.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
thriller film, released on October 9, 2007. It went direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
and was first aired on Sci-Fi Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the USA.
Synopsis
After she becomes stranded in a small town, Elizabeth Chambers, (Jaimie AlexanderJaimie Alexander
Jaimie Alexander is an American actress best known for portraying Jessi on the TV series Kyle XY and Sif in the 2011 superhero film Thor.-Early life:...
) discovers her arrival was foretold a century earlier by the town's founding preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
(Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.-Personal life:...
) and that she is an integral part of his impending--and terrifying--rebirth.
After her car breaks down, Liz is forced to stay overnight in the town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Hope while the local mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
orders a replacement part. Hungry, she takes a seat in the booth of the nearby diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
. The clientele and the waitresses alike stare at her. As she awaits her order, a blonde takes the seat opposite Liz, introducing herself as Sarah Austin (Hudson Leick
Hudson Leick
Heidi Hudson Leick is an American actress, known for her role as villain Callisto in the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. She is a certified Yoga instructor and intuitive counselor at the Healing Heart Yoga Center.-Biography:...
), a reporter for a tabloid newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. She is in town to investigate legends of living scarecrows--men, women, and children who were nailed to crosses in a cornfield to frighten away the crows. According to Sarah, the townspeople of Hope once sacrificed people by nailing them to crosses in the cornfields until a young girl ran away and alerted residents of the nearby town of Liberty. Who, horrified and outraged to learn of the multiple murders going on right next door, nailed the local preacher who spearheaded the sacrifices to a cross in the same cornfield in which he had murdered his many victims. And legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
contends that one day he will be reborn.
Sarah persuades Liz to accompany her to the cornfield. They enter the farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
next to the field
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
, and Sarah takes several photographs of its interior, and of the many crows that seem to haunt the place. They then enter the cornfield itself, where Sarah takes more pictures of a scarecrow that she and Liz construct and hang on a cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
, intending to use the photograph for the newspaper's front page
Page
-Position or occupation:* Page , a traditionally young male servant* Page * Page of Honour, a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom* A participant in any of the following programs:...
. When Liz retreats into the cornrows to urinate, Sarah is attacked and killed by the scarecrow, which comes to life and tears itself from its cross. The scarecrow tries to kill Liz as well, but a deputy arrives, and although he is killed by the scarecrow, Liz manages to escape in the squad car.
She drives to the sheriff's office, where she tells her tale
Tale
Tale may refer to:*Cautionary tale, a traditional story told in folklore, to warn its hearer of a danger*Fairy tale, a fictional story that usually features folkloric characters and enchantments*Folk tale, a story passed-down within a particular population, which comprises the traditions of that...
, and the Sheriff O'Connor (Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Dean Karny in the TV Movie Billionaire Boys Club for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role.-Biography:...
) leaves with a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
to visit the crime scene
Crime scene
A crime scene is a location where an illegal act took place, and comprises the area from which most of the physical evidence is retrieved by trained law enforcement personnel, crime scene investigators or in rare circumstances, forensic scientists....
and retrieve the corpse of his deputy, leaving Liz in the care of his other deputy, whom he tells to request backup. When the deputy is unable to reach anyone by radio or telephone, he leaves Liz alone while he goes to find out what the problem is. Liz arms herself with a shotgun, and, using it, is able to fend off the scarecrow when it arrives at the sheriff’s office, stalking her. After believing to have taken out the scarecrow as she thought it was a costume at this point Liz walks outside to find a body however she finds a scarecrow arm she had shot off and the scarecrow sneaks up behind her, getting one good shot at him the gun then runs out of ammo. She tries to flee in her car, hoping that it has been repaired, but it won't start. Looking under the hood, she sees that the engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
has been removed.
She takes refuge with the town's preacher, but, when she finds a book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
explaining the scarecrow's origin and nature, she discovers that the preacher is the leader of the townspeople, who worship the spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
of the founding preacher that now dwells inside the scarecrow she and sarah created. The preacher intends to bring the spirit back to life by fathering a child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
by Liz, whom the spirit can possess. The sheriff, who is not a native of the area, but moved there to get away from the mean streets of the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in which he had previously been a lawman, arrives in time to stop the townspeople, but he loses consciousness in the car crash that occurs when a truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
driver, following them, rams his squad car, running it off the road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
and into the cornfield. The preacher and the townspeople return to Hope with Liz. When the clergyman tries to rape her, she smothers him with a pillow
Pillow
A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows , which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort...
and escapes through the window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
in the bedroom's rear wall.
As she flees from her pursuers, she finds Sabrina (Chloe Moretz
Chloe Moretz
Chloë Grace Moretz is an American actress, known for her role as Hit-Girl in the 2010 superhero film Kick-Ass. She also appeared in The Amityville Horror, Days of Summer, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hugo, and portrayed Abby, the child vampire, in Let Me In.-Personal life:Moretz was born in Atlanta,...
), a young girl
Girl
A girl is any female human from birth through childhood and adolescence to attainment of adulthood. The term may also be used to mean a young woman.-Etymology:...
in hiding in the underground shelter the group of townspeople originally hid in. Her parents were killed by the scarecrow, but she escaped and hid. Meanwhile, in accordance with the instructions in the book, the townspeople, now led by the mechanic, Earl (Jim Cody Williams), who was supposed to repair Liz's car,set out in search of Liz. Afraid the girl will slow her down, Liz hides Sabrina in a hole in the cornfield while she goes for help. She makes it to the next town only to find everyone's dead. She is picked up by the sheriff, who escaped the townspeople, and Liz tells him about Sabrina and jokes that the townspeople think she is a virgin. When they return to the cornfield, ostensibly to retrieve Sabrina, Liz discovers that the sheriff has been possessed by the spirit of the Preacher. When asked why he cant just keep this body he explains that because it is dead it would decay and have bugs all over it within hours.
The Preacher now goes in search of the girl as he tells the townspeople Liz is no good as she is not pure but as they search the girl sneaks into the farmhouse with a lighter that Liz had given her earlier and uses a part of her doll to set the house on fire, after the A takes notice he finds Sabrina and Liz but Liz is able to kill him with a pitchfork. The townspeople crowd around but let Liz and Sabrina go as they burn the body of the Preacher as the prophecy tells them too.
Liz flees with the girl, but the spirit of the Preacher possesses the body of Sabrina's father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
, which they encounter hanging on one of the many crosses in the cornfield. Vines ensnare Liz while the animated corpse of Sabrina's father appeals to the girl to help him. At first, Sabrina believes that the possessed corpse is her father, despite Liz's insistence that it is not, and she walks toward him as he hangs upon the cross. However, when he tears himself from the cross, speaks to her in a demonic voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
, and she sees a nail through his hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
, Sabrina runs to Liz.
A murder of crows appear in the sky and the townspeople, believe it is a good omen, until the crows attack and kill them as well as attacking Sabrina's father, allowing Liz to extract herself from the vines.
After that, we see the preacher still in Sabrina's father's body move a few fingers ,meanwhile Liz and Sabrina escape, hitching a ride from a truck driver (William Stanford Davis)who is passing through the area. He turns on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and a song comes on that reminds Liz and Sabrina of their ordeal
Ordeal
Ordeal may refer to* The American title of What Happened to the Corbetts, a 1939 novel by Nevil Shute* Trial by ordeal, the judicial practice...
. Liz turns the radio off, and the driver and the two hitchhikers, Liz and Sabrina, continue down the road, leaving Hope behind.
Cast
- Jaimie AlexanderJaimie AlexanderJaimie Alexander is an American actress best known for portraying Jessi on the TV series Kyle XY and Sif in the 2011 superhero film Thor.-Early life:...
as Elizabeth "Liz" Chambers - Brian McNamaraBrian McNamaraBrian McNamara is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Dean Karny in the TV Movie Billionaire Boys Club for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role.-Biography:...
as Sherriff O'Connor - Chloe MoretzChloe MoretzChloë Grace Moretz is an American actress, known for her role as Hit-Girl in the 2010 superhero film Kick-Ass. She also appeared in The Amityville Horror, Days of Summer, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hugo, and portrayed Abby, the child vampire, in Let Me In.-Personal life:Moretz was born in Atlanta,...
as Sabrina - Hudson LeickHudson LeickHeidi Hudson Leick is an American actress, known for her role as villain Callisto in the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. She is a certified Yoga instructor and intuitive counselor at the Healing Heart Yoga Center.-Biography:...
as Sarah Austin