Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Children of the Corn’

Written by Scott Edwards

Over my many years of watching horror films, I'm starting to learn that the best ones out there, figure out how to merge the best parts of indie horror, with their unique and original storytelling, and studio horror, with their slick production values that allow for you to forget about any glaring plot holes, and unfortunately, in this day and age...that blend can be hard to come by. While I love the indies and the stories they bring to the table, sometimes the stories they tell just don't resonate and I'll switch them off, and some studio flicks, just do everything by the numbers and make it look pretty. That's why sometimes, I need to turn to those perfectly blended films, the ones that let me enjoy the best parts of the genre... like the one I watched recently, Children of the Corn.

While going out for lunch after church, Job sees that the kids in town have totally lost it as they kill all of the adults in the diner. Seeing that this has happened all over the small town of Gatlin, Job is trying to look out for his sister Sarah and fly under the radar so that the new leader in town does not hurt either of them. As Isaac is taking his orders from, He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows, he is determined to keep all of his followers in line. But when there is news that outsiders are coming to his town, he finds out that not everyone is on the same page and his most trusted lieutenant Malachai wants to take over when they don’t see eye to eye. Although Issac has won Gatlin’s hearts with his sermons, it may not be enough to keep him from being the next sacrifice.

Needing to drive across country for his new job, Burt is happy with the arrangement he and Vicky currently have, but he can tell that there is something else on her mind. Finding themselves on a backroad in Nebraska, the two pull out the road map and try to find out where they are, but when Burt’s eyes are off of the road, he hits a kid head on. Seeing that there is something strange about the kid as his throat has been cut, the two need to find a phone to call someone for help, but when they are told by the local gas station attendant to avoid Gatlin, the closest town, they find that all of the signs on the road point that way.  Heading into town, the couple are surprised to see no one walking the streets and when they try to use the phone in the diner, they see kids trying to steal their car. Knowing that there is something strange about the town, Burt and Vicky are ready to leave, but when Burt spots movement in one of the outlying houses, he wants to investigate. Meeting Job and Sarah, the outsiders quickly find themselves on the run from the bloodthirsty kids who run the town and also provide regular human sacrifices to He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows.
 
A pretty chilling little movie that delivers on most fronts. The most frightening thing about this film is that it has a kid preacher that is able to manipulate all of the other youth in the town to follow him and do everything that he says. I like how Burt and Vicky are able to make it into town and find out what is happening from the only two non-believers in Gatlin and while they try to make a change, they are out matched by the killer kids that are looking for blood. When most people would want to run away from the situation, the only two adults in many miles try to explain to these kids that what they are doing is wrong, but when they see who Isaac and his followers worship, they understand that there is no reasoning with them any longer. Stay Scared.
​
Five Takeaways

1. When your kids would rather listen to a sermon by a child than go to church with you…RUN!
2. Worshipping something that comes from under the ground is never good.
3. When the corn seems to speak to you and the wind blows fiercely, you might not want to be in a corn field.
4. Do not stop anywhere in Nebraska, even to take pictures of the corn.
5. Fire kills everything, even evil beings that can control children’s minds.

---