Children of the Corn (1984 film)
Encyclopedia
Children of the Corn is a 1984 horror film
based upon the 1977 short story
of the same name
by Stephen King
. Directed by Fritz Kiersch
, the film stars Peter Horton
and Linda Hamilton
. Set in the fictitious rural town of Gatlin, Nebraska
, the film tells the story of a demonic entity
referred to as "He Who Walks Behind The Rows" which entices the children of the town to ritualistically murder
all the adults to ensure a successful corn harvest, and a couple driving cross-country that get caught up in it. King wrote the original draft of the screenplay, which focused more on the characters of Burt and Vicky and depicted more backstory on the uprising of the children in Gatlin. This script was disregarded in favor of George Goldsmith's screenplay, which featured more violence and a more conventional narrative structure. Filming took place mainly in Iowa, but also California. Seven sequels and a television remake
have been produced.
), arrives and takes all the children of Gatlin into a cornfield to speak to them about the prophecies of a demon called "He Who Walks Behind The Rows". Isaac, through his lieutenant Malachai (Courtney Gains
), leads the children of the town in a revolution, brutally killing all of the adults in the town. Over the ensuing years, the children take any adults passing through as sacrifices.
Several years later, Burt (Peter Horton
) and his girlfriend Vicky (Linda Hamilton
) pass through Nebraska while driving cross-country to Burt's new job as a physician in Seattle, Washington. They are traveling in their car and hit a small boy out on the highway. This boy was one of the Gatlin children who tried to escape the iron hand of the death cult
. The couple place his body in the trunk. They encounter an old mechanic, who is little to no help, as the children of Gatlin have employed him to lead all adults passing through to the town, but they betray him and kill him anyway. Burt and Vicky finally end up in Gatlin, after searching for several hours for a phone.
A struggle ensues between the couple, "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" and the children as the couple are violently chase them through the city. Burt and Vicky rescue Job and his little sister Sarah, who do not wish to be part of the cult. Vicky is captured by Malachai, and she is prepared as a sacrifice before they track down and capture Burt and the children.
However, Malachai and the others have grown tired of Isaac's arrogance. Assuming command over the children, Malachai orders Isaac to be sacrificed in Vicky's place. Night soon falls and Burt enters the cornfield to rescue Vicky. The sacrifice soon begins and Isaac is seemingly devoured by He Who Walks Behind The Rows. Burt arrives and battles Malachai, convincing the children that their minds have been poisoned and their humanity sacrificed in the name of their god. As Malachai tries to regain control of the children, Isaac's re-animated corpse (apparently possessed by He Who Walks Behind The Rows) appears and kills Malachai, breaking his neck.
Soon, a terrible storm gathers over the cornfield and Burt and Vicky gather the children inside a barn to shield them from the wrath of the dark entity. As the storm intensifies all around them, While filling the irrigation pumps with gasohol fuel, Burt is attacked by He Who Walks Behind The Rows. However, Burt is able to spray the fields with the flammable liquid and lights a Molotov cocktail
, tossing it into the field, burning it and ultimately destroying the demon.
Burt, Vicky, Job and Sarah survive and are able to leave Gatlin as the cornfields burn. As Burt takes a seat in his car and is about to start it, a teenage girl who is a member of the cult jumps out at him from the back seat and attempts to stab him. Burt knocks her out with the passenger door, and the four walk off into the distance to parts unknown.
and Roger Ebert
on At The Movies. Both found the film extremely distasteful. It currently rates as 'Rotten' on the website Rotten Tomatoes
with 39% of 23 critics finding it good. The film was a financial success though, taking in over $14 million at the US box office.
of the first film, which would premiere on the Syfy
channel. Production began in August, filming in Davenport, Iowa, however, it was moved to Lost Nation, Iowa.(TJC)
The cast included David Anders
, Kandyse McClure
, Preston Bailey
, Daniel Newman
and Alexa Nikolas
. The movie aired on September 26, 2009, and the DVD was released on October 6, 2009 by Anchor Bay. The television remake closely follows the original storyline present in the short story
, and not that of the original film.
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...
based upon the 1977 short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
of the same name
Children of the Corn
"Children of the Corn" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift.- Plot summary :...
by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. Directed by Fritz Kiersch
Fritz Kiersch
Fritz Kiersch, real name George Keith Kiersch is an American filmmaker, writer and producer. He is best known for directing the horror classic, Children of the Corn and Tuff Turf.- Director :...
, the film stars Peter Horton
Peter Horton
Peter Horton is an American actor and director. He played the role of Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething until 1991.-Early life:...
and Linda Hamilton
Linda Hamilton
Linda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
. Set in the fictitious rural town of Gatlin, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, the film tells the story of a demonic entity
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
referred to as "He Who Walks Behind The Rows" which entices the children of the town to ritualistically murder
Death cult
The term Death cult may refer to:*The Cult, Death Cult was an early name for this British rock band*Death Cult , a compilation album featuring all the songs from Death Cult*A synonym for the term destructive cult...
all the adults to ensure a successful corn harvest, and a couple driving cross-country that get caught up in it. King wrote the original draft of the screenplay, which focused more on the characters of Burt and Vicky and depicted more backstory on the uprising of the children in Gatlin. This script was disregarded in favor of George Goldsmith's screenplay, which featured more violence and a more conventional narrative structure. Filming took place mainly in Iowa, but also California. Seven sequels and a television remake
Children of the Corn (film series)
The Children of the Corn film series began with Children of the Corn, released in 1984. The franchise went on to release six more films through 2001. With the exception of the first two installments, all of the films were released direct-to-video...
have been produced.
Plot
In the fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska, Job tells the story of how the town became a safe haven for a group of young cultists. The economy of the town is mostly agricultural, and the town is surrounded by vast cornfields. One particular year the corn crop fails and the people of Gatlin turn to prayer in an attempt to ensure a successful harvest. A mysterious boy preacher, Isaac Chroner (John FranklinJohn Franklin (actor)
John Franklin is an American actor.-Personal life:John Franklin was born in Blue Island, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago on June 16, 1959. He has three older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother and grew up in a close knit, loving family. In 1977, John graduated from Dwight D...
), arrives and takes all the children of Gatlin into a cornfield to speak to them about the prophecies of a demon called "He Who Walks Behind The Rows". Isaac, through his lieutenant Malachai (Courtney Gains
Courtney Gains
-Life and career:Gains achieved success during the 1980s with a variety of roles in films such as Children of the Corn, Hardbodies, Lust in the Dust, Back to the Future, Can't Buy Me Love, Colors,Wing Commander III, The 'Burbs and Memphis Belle...
), leads the children of the town in a revolution, brutally killing all of the adults in the town. Over the ensuing years, the children take any adults passing through as sacrifices.
Several years later, Burt (Peter Horton
Peter Horton
Peter Horton is an American actor and director. He played the role of Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething until 1991.-Early life:...
) and his girlfriend Vicky (Linda Hamilton
Linda Hamilton
Linda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
) pass through Nebraska while driving cross-country to Burt's new job as a physician in Seattle, Washington. They are traveling in their car and hit a small boy out on the highway. This boy was one of the Gatlin children who tried to escape the iron hand of the death cult
Death cult
The term Death cult may refer to:*The Cult, Death Cult was an early name for this British rock band*Death Cult , a compilation album featuring all the songs from Death Cult*A synonym for the term destructive cult...
. The couple place his body in the trunk. They encounter an old mechanic, who is little to no help, as the children of Gatlin have employed him to lead all adults passing through to the town, but they betray him and kill him anyway. Burt and Vicky finally end up in Gatlin, after searching for several hours for a phone.
A struggle ensues between the couple, "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" and the children as the couple are violently chase them through the city. Burt and Vicky rescue Job and his little sister Sarah, who do not wish to be part of the cult. Vicky is captured by Malachai, and she is prepared as a sacrifice before they track down and capture Burt and the children.
However, Malachai and the others have grown tired of Isaac's arrogance. Assuming command over the children, Malachai orders Isaac to be sacrificed in Vicky's place. Night soon falls and Burt enters the cornfield to rescue Vicky. The sacrifice soon begins and Isaac is seemingly devoured by He Who Walks Behind The Rows. Burt arrives and battles Malachai, convincing the children that their minds have been poisoned and their humanity sacrificed in the name of their god. As Malachai tries to regain control of the children, Isaac's re-animated corpse (apparently possessed by He Who Walks Behind The Rows) appears and kills Malachai, breaking his neck.
Soon, a terrible storm gathers over the cornfield and Burt and Vicky gather the children inside a barn to shield them from the wrath of the dark entity. As the storm intensifies all around them, While filling the irrigation pumps with gasohol fuel, Burt is attacked by He Who Walks Behind The Rows. However, Burt is able to spray the fields with the flammable liquid and lights a Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
, tossing it into the field, burning it and ultimately destroying the demon.
Burt, Vicky, Job and Sarah survive and are able to leave Gatlin as the cornfields burn. As Burt takes a seat in his car and is about to start it, a teenage girl who is a member of the cult jumps out at him from the back seat and attempts to stab him. Burt knocks her out with the passenger door, and the four walk off into the distance to parts unknown.
Cast
- Peter HortonPeter HortonPeter Horton is an American actor and director. He played the role of Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething until 1991.-Early life:...
as Burt Stanton - Linda HamiltonLinda HamiltonLinda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
as Vicky Baxter - R.G. Armstrong as Diehl ("The Old Man")
- John FranklinJohn Franklin (actor)John Franklin is an American actor.-Personal life:John Franklin was born in Blue Island, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago on June 16, 1959. He has three older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother and grew up in a close knit, loving family. In 1977, John graduated from Dwight D...
as Isaac Chroner - Courtney GainsCourtney Gains-Life and career:Gains achieved success during the 1980s with a variety of roles in films such as Children of the Corn, Hardbodies, Lust in the Dust, Back to the Future, Can't Buy Me Love, Colors,Wing Commander III, The 'Burbs and Memphis Belle...
as Malachai Boardman - John PhilbinJohn PhilbinJohn Philbin is an American surfer who has appeared in television and film.John first began acting in high school, around the same time he began surfing. Choosing acting over wrestling, John joined a drama team that went on to win awards throughout his high school career. Upon leaving high school,...
as Richard 'Amos' Deigan - Robby Kiger as Job bop
- Anne Marie McEvoy as Sarah
Reception
The film received two thumbs down from Gene SiskelGene Siskel
Eugene Kal "Gene" Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1975 until his death....
and Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
on At The Movies. Both found the film extremely distasteful. It currently rates as 'Rotten' on the website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
with 39% of 23 critics finding it good. The film was a financial success though, taking in over $14 million at the US box office.
Television remake
In June 2008 it was confirmed that Donald P. Borchers would begin writing and directing a TV remakeChildren of the Corn (2009 film)
Children of the Corn is a 2009 made-for-television supernatural horror film directed, written and produced by Donald P. Borchers and based on the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King...
of the first film, which would premiere on the Syfy
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...
channel. Production began in August, filming in Davenport, Iowa, however, it was moved to Lost Nation, Iowa.(TJC)
The cast included David Anders
David Anders
David Anders is an American television and stage actor. He is best known for his roles as Julian Sark on Alias, and as Adam Monroe on Heroes. Although Anders is American, both of these noted roles required him to use an English accent.-Early life:Anders was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, to parents...
, Kandyse McClure
Kandyse McClure
Kandyse McClure is an actress, best known for playing Anastasia Dualla on the Sci Fi Channel's television program Battlestar Galactica.- Biography :...
, Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey is an American child actor who started acting at the age of two. He is probably most known for appearing in the Showtime TV series Dexter and for starring in such as films Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Children of the Corn, and The Crazies.-Biography:Bailey was born in...
, Daniel Newman
Daniel Newman (American actor)
Daniel Christopher Newman is an American actor, model and member of the band The Vanderbilts. He appeared in Cirque du Freak, starring along Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, and John C. Reilly.-Life and career:...
and Alexa Nikolas
Alexa Nikolas
Alexa Helen Nikolas is an American actress. Her most notable is that of Nicole Bristow on the Nickelodeon TV show Zoey 101, in which she appeared from 2005 to 2006.-Career:...
. The movie aired on September 26, 2009, and the DVD was released on October 6, 2009 by Anchor Bay. The television remake closely follows the original storyline present in the short story
Children of the Corn
"Children of the Corn" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift.- Plot summary :...
, and not that of the original film.
Sequels
- Children of the Corn II: The Final SacrificeChildren of the Corn II: The Final SacrificeChildren of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice is the sequel to the 1984 movie Children of the Corn. This sequel, directed by David F. Price, stars Terence Knox, Ryan Bollman, Ned Romero, and Paul Scherrer. The film was released in theatres by Dimension Films in January 1993, with the video release...
- Children of the Corn III: Urban HarvestChildren of the Corn III: Urban HarvestChildren of the Corn III: Urban Harvest is the third film in the Children of the Corn series, based on the short story of the same name by Stephen King...
- Children of the Corn IV: The GatheringChildren of the Corn IV: The GatheringChildren of the Corn IV: The Gathering is the fourth film in the Children of the Corn horror series. It was released in 1996, and directed by Greg Spence...
- Children of the Corn V: Fields of TerrorChildren of the Corn V: Fields of TerrorChildren of the Corn V: Fields of Terror is a 1998 motion picture and the fifth installment of the Children of the Corn series. It is also the third Children of the Corn movie released by Dimension Films and Miramax Films...
- Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's ReturnChildren of the Corn 666: Isaac's ReturnChildren of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return is the sixth film in the Children of the Corn series. It is the fourth film that went direct-to-video...
External links
- Entire film at Google VideoGoogle VideoGoogle Videos is a video search engine, and formerly a free video sharing website, from Google Inc. Before removing user-uploaded content, the service allowed selected videos to be remotely embedded on other websites and provided the necessary HTML code alongside the media, similar to YouTube...
- ChildrenoftheCornMovie.com