Children of the Corn (1984)
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A couple traveling through rural Nebraska find themselves caught in the path of a sinister cult of children who worship a malevolent entity in the cornfields.
The story
Set in the fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska, the film follows a community where a malevolent entity known as 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' has influenced the local children. These children have formed a religious cult, performing ritualistic acts to ensure a successful corn harvest. When a couple, Burt and Vicky, travel through the area, they encounter the unsettling atmosphere of the town. They soon find themselves confronted by the children and their leaders, Malachai and Isaac, who are dedicated to their dark cause. The couple must navigate the dangers of the cornfields and the fanatical devotion of the children to survive the encounter.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the agricultural town of Gatlin, Nebraska, a boy named Isaac Croner leads the local children into a cult worshipping 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows.' They murder the adults in town as human sacrifices. Years later, Burt and Vicky, traveling to Seattle, encounter a boy in the corn and later find the town abandoned. They meet Diehl, the last adult, who is murdered by Malachai. They find a girl named Sarah and are eventually captured by Malachai's followers. Burt is attacked by a girl named Rachel while trying to save Vicky. They hide in a fallout shelter with Sarah. A conflict arises between Isaac and Malachai over the fate of Vicky. During a ritual, a supernatural light consumes Isaac. Burt rescues Vicky and convinces the children to flee. A fire is set to destroy the cornfield and the entity. The couple escapes with two children, Job and Sarah, after a final confrontation with Rachel.
- First release year
- 1984
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Fritz Kiersch
- Writers
- George Goldsmith · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Peter Horton · Burt; Linda Hamilton · Vicky; John Franklin; Courtney Gains · Malachai; Robby Kiger; Anne Marie McEvoy; Julie Maddalena; R. G. Armstrong
- Genres
- supernatural slasher; horror
- Themes
- religious fundamentalism; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- eerie; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- cult; human sacrifice; supernatural; road movie
- Source material / true-story basis
- Stephen King's 1977 short story
- Franchise connections
- Children of the Corn
- Content notes
- gore
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its atmosphere while others criticized its pacing and effects.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 38% · scale: percentage · review count: 34; Metacritic · score: 45 · scale: 100; TV Guide · score: 1/5 · scale: 5
- Production trivia
- The script was a revision of a draft by Stephen King that focused more on the characters of Burt and Vicky.; The cornstalks had to be propped up and painted green to appear living.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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