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Horror thriller

Scum of the Earth (1974): Cast & Plot

Scum of the Earth (1974) movie poster

Scum of the Earth is a 1974 horror thriller directed by S.F. Brownrigg, starring Joel Colodner as Paul Fraser, Norma Moore and Gene Ross. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes.

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Scum of the Earth (1974) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
S.F. Brownrigg
Genres
Horror , Thriller , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Scum of the Earth About?

The premise of Scum of the Earth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During their honeymoon in a secluded Texas cabin, newlyweds Helen and Paul are devastated when Paul is killed by an unseen assailant. Helen escapes into the woods, where Odie Pickett and his impoverished hillbilly family take her in, imprisoning her in their isolated shack while the killer remains at large, turning the remote refuge into a nightmare.

Scum of the Earth Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • psychopath
  • psycho terror
  • grindhouse film
  • serial murder
  • maniac
  • sadistic murderer
  • sadistic psychopath
  • exploitation film
  • psychopathic killer
  • sadism
  • rape
  • slasher
+38 more
  • hillbilly
  • suspense
  • gore
  • homicidal maniac
  • human monster
  • low budget film
  • villain
  • independent horror
  • b horror
  • slaughter
  • stabbed to death
  • body count
  • murdered with an axe
  • butchery
  • terror
  • insanity
  • insane man
  • bad guy
  • blood
  • murder spree
  • murder
  • slasher murderer
  • stabbing
  • psychotronic film
  • axe murderer
  • backwoods slasher
  • forest
  • hillbilly horror
  • redneck horror
  • incest
  • father daughter incest
  • hixploitation film
  • vacation goes wrong
  • cigarette smoking
  • pregnancy
  • cabin
  • vacation
  • backwoods
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Cast & crew

Scum of the Earth Cast & Characters

Joel Colodner leads the cast as Paul Fraser, with Norma Moore as Helen Fraser and Gene Ross as Odis Pickett. Directed by S.F. Brownrigg; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Scum of the Earth

· 3 more
From the director

More from S.F. Brownrigg

More films directed by S.F. Brownrigg: Thinkin’ Big, Keep My Grave Open, Don’t Hang Up! and Don’t Look in the Basement.

Full filmography
Plot

Scum of the Earth Plot Summary

What happens in Scum of the Earth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Paul Fraser and Helen Fraser arrive at an isolated lakeside cabin, where tragedy strikes when a figure with an axe brutally murders Paul. Helen discovers the body, the car keys are missing, and she flees into the woods. She stumbles upon Odis Pickett, who insists he will phone the sheriff. Inside the Pickett farmhouse, Odis introduces her to his pregnant wife, Emmy Pickett; daughter, Sarah Pickett; and developmentally disabled son, Bo Pickett. Exhausted, Helen considers leaving but accepts the Picketts’ offer to spend the night to avoid endangering herself. In the nearby woods, a figure watches the Pickett farmhouse.

Full summary

The whole story of Scum of the Earth, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Scum of the Earth Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Scum of the Earth.

Scum Of The Earth trailer (1974) 4K scan!
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Scum of the Earth?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which character is murdered with an axe early in the film?

Seen Scum of the Earth?

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Movies Like Scum of the Earth

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Scum of the Earth!, The Sadist and Scream Bloody Murder.

FAQ

Scum of the Earth FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Scum of the Earth, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Scum of the Earth?

Scum of the Earth runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Scum of the Earth released?

Scum of the Earth was released on July 1, 1974.

Who directed Scum of the Earth?

Scum of the Earth was directed by S.F. Brownrigg.

More films by S.F. Brownrigg

Who is in the cast of Scum of the Earth?

Scum of the Earth stars Joel Colodner as Paul Fraser, Norma Moore as Helen Fraser and Gene Ross as Odis Pickett, among 7 credited actors.

Does Scum of the Earth have a post-credit scene?

No. Scum of the Earth has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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