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| Children of the Corn |
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  (5/10)
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Runtime: 93 m |
| Public Rating: 8.33 (45 votes) |
Director: Fritz Kiersch |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Horror |
Year: 1984 |
| Writer(s): George Goldsmith |
| Distributor: 1 |
| Reviewed by: Scott S. |
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Welcome to Gatlin, Nebraska. Where nobody over the age of 19 is welcome, and you better not drink the coffee. As the movie starts, we get a narration from Job (Robby Kiger) who introduces us into the story three years before the movie takes place. Job and his father go to a coffee shop after church where it all begins. Someone has poisoned the coffee, which kills everyone as they all drink it at the same time. The shop is ambushed by a group of teens who brutally stab the remaining adults who haven't been poisoned. Job watches in horror as the start of the children uprising begins.
Three years later, a goofy young couple are traveling to Seattle where Burton (Peter Horton) will begin practicing medicine. His wife Vicky (Linda Hamilton) is going along for the ride, but has a purpose. Director Fritz Kiersch goes out of his way to show how happy this couple is. There is a mushy hotel room scene where they kiss for several minutes and Vicky even does a little singing. I'm guessing this is Kiersch's attempt to build up the characters before they depart to Psychoville.
While traveling down a long road, Burton runs over a child, but he was already dead after a slashing attack took place minutes before when he tried to escape Gatlin. Burton investigates while the car sits in the middle of the road, and they agree that they must stop in the nearest town to phone for help. But they never find any phones. They drive through Gatlin, which is completely deserted, and I must say it looks nice and works well for a horror movie, but very little happens.
We see the children that have been occupying the town since they killed off all their parents and the adults three years ago. The leader is Issac, (John Franklin) a child preacher. He is the leader of the children who have formed a cult and worship some type of demon God.
The kids are all plain and lifeless. This is understandable because they are all forbidden to live in their old homes, listen to music or play games. What else is there for them to do in a town that already has nothing in it? They assemble in the field throughout the day, listening to Issac's preaching.
It takes a good 3/4 of the movie before Burton and Vicky realize there is nothing they can do for the dead boy while in Gatlin. By the time they try to leave, which is in the end, the children have emerged to capture and sacrifice the adults to their God. I can't recall anything scary happening. You see a young boy die off camera. There is a good amount of blood, but nothing extraordinary for a 'rated R' horror movie.
So what happens up to the 3/4 mark? Burton and Vicky explore the deserted city looking for a phone. The lag is severe, as the kids don't attack the couple until near the end. And when we do eventually get to the climax, cheesy special effects and ridiculous sequences hinder any chance that you'll be the least bit frightened. The kids are creepy in their own light, but aren't convincing enough for you to believe that they could have killed off an entire population.
I give Children of the Corn points for an interesting story. Even though it is hard to believe that a town's youth can kill off every adult. The acting is horrible, but then again, so is the acting in most 1984 low-budget horror movies. The score is good. Music comprised of a depressing harmony of young children gets a thumbs up, it's not enough to keep the suspense up.
The ending ranks as one of the worst I've seen for this genre. I'll spare the details for the curious; I will tell you that it has something to do with a supernatural force, and a big explosion.
What this movie has going for it is an intriguing story and the ability to make you think. It makes for a scary premise; a town that is run by demonic children. The inspiration is apparent as six movies have spawned after the original. I wouldn't be surprised if they keep going, as the most recent was just made in 2001. Children of the Corn is mostly for Stephen King fans, but some will find this cult-like tale hooking them in for the sequels. I am one of them.
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