Life has taught us that we should never rely on one thing in order to get by. In Children of the Corn the town of Gatlin, Nebraska bases their entire economy on corn. When the crops yield little to nothing the people begin turning to prayer. If there is anything cults have taught us, it is that religion can make a pretty powerful enemy. Ultimately, it is the combination of religion and demented children that brings the horror in Children of the Corn.
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The film revolves around two children who are trapped inside the cult and two adults who unfortunately find themselves in the middle of it all. Since the corn crop has failed, the children of Gatlin began listening to a very empowered young man named Isaac (John Franklin). This kid, practically the devil himself, convinces all the children to kill all the adults in the city. Any adults who stumble on this pretty little town are sacrificed to “He Who Walks Behind The Rows”, which is the demon Isaac is embodying.
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As you can already tell, the background for the story is interesting enough, but the plot twists and turns are cliché and boring. The two grown-ups, Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton) are shallow and uninteresting. Burt is the classic hero, running around attempting to save everyone, while Vicky is the maternal woman who has a soft spot for the kids. The film runs like a buffet line and before long you find yourself completely bored. Is the film scary? No, not at all. The only thing interesting is the cult background and the idea that children are killing everyone.
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To further add to the horror of it all, Children of the Corn has not aged well at all. It seems like a Lifetime movie, but with even worse effects. If you are into really cliché horror moments then this film is definitely for you. The film could get by with horrible effects if it had even an inkling of unique plot lines, but alas it doesn’t. Are there any redeeming qualities about this film? Well, the ending is what everyone expected, but it is rewarding in the fact that there is resolution. The setting itself is also interesting and seems realistic. It is completely probable that a rundown corn town could have cult activity in hopes of yielding more crops.
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Horror island is receiving a cookie cutter demon that isn’t scary at all. You don’t necessarily have to be scary to survive on the island, but you at least have to be interesting. While this demon flashes moments of interest, it ultimately fails to transcend time.
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If you liked Children of the Corn, you might also like The Wicker Man.