Popcorn, Corn on the Hob, Candy-Corn. These are all the things you wouldn’t mind running into. What you wouldn’t like to run into is:
CHILDREN OF THE CORN (1984)
In the small town of Gatlin, Nebrska, a child preacher orchestrates the murder of every adult in town. When a couple enter the town looking for a phone to report a murder, they stumble upon the religious cult of children. Trapped by crazed kids, they have little chance of surviving.
Children of the Corn is one of those classic horror films that you must see. It has been on my list for quite some time. But I’ve already felt like I knew the story. Over the years it has been imitated, referenced and parodied. Despite my familiarity with the source material, I really enjoyed the film. The opening scene is a blinder. And it sets up the tone of the movie perfectly. It’s eerie and extremely chilling. The idea of mass murder being performed by a group of kids has a lasting effect. Unlike the 
zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion, this could actually happen.
A cult made entirely of children, following the voice of one man. A man named Isaac (John Fraklin). He has a second in command, a ruthless red-headed demon child by the name of Malachai (Courtney Gains). Gingers often get a hard time. But in this case it’s okay to be harsh. I know I blurted out a few choice words whenever he did something to anger me. Malachai is terrifying as Isaac’s Number One. Vicious, merciless, and a real meanie. The other children are just as menacing, showing little resentment for the crimes they have committed, with the exception of a few.
Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton) share wonderful chemistry together, and the beginning of their perfect relationship is finely scripted. When in Gatlin they do well against the bloodthirsty rugrats, well, at least Burt does. Poor Vicky is crucified for a good portion of the film. This is what troubles me about the movie. After Vicky is rescued by Burt it is as though their relationship never took a beating. Things go back to the way they were. But Burt was the one who wanted to explore more of the town, and it was Burt who left Vicky alone, making it easier for her to be kidnapped. Surely that justifies Vicky being a little ticked off? Alas, no. Audiences (as far as the producers are concerned) want the happy ending where the couple, after being through a stressful event, get back together just like it was in the beginning. This refusal for character development spoils the ending. It’s too cheery for such a dark film. Even the two children, who never murdered anyone, and in fact helped Burt rescue Vicky, have 
a bizarre look of absolute joy when asked to go home with the couple. Something about that moment gave me more chills than the entire movie. The tone was all wrong. It cheapens the film as a whole.
The religious cult of children is an intriguing concept. They worship something called the Man Who Walks Behind The Rows. He’s a fictional God and we assume Isaac is making this up to gather support. We are given small hints to a mysterious force but we are never sure if it is real or not. It is only up until the final act are we presented with an answer (a poorly CGI answer). The Man Who Walks Behind The Rows is a demon and requires sacrifices. Again, this moment feels like a punch to the face from producer to intelligent film-goers. The movie loses all sense of why it is frightening. Children committing horrific acts of violence by themselves is more scary than when you add in a demon / evil spirit.
Overall, Children of the Corn is a fun, fast paced film, with interesting concepts, but a little outdated. I do recommend seeing it if you want to get all the cultural references in modern pop-culture such as that South Park episode. OUTLANDER!
Best Line: “Outlander! Outlander! We have your woman!”
Best Moment: Malachai drags Vicky through the streets shouting the line above.
6/10
[Editor’s note – Korn also wrote a song about this film/book, and it’s a personal favorite!]
