The plot follows a couple named Burt and Vicky, who are on a road trip to California when their car accidentally hits a boy who is running out of the cornfield. They decide to investigate and come across a town named Gatlin, where all the adults have disappeared, presumably murdered by the town’s children. The children are under the control of a mysterious preacher named Isaac, who leads the cult and commands them to sacrifice anyone who reaches a certain age. The cult also worships a demon known as He Who Walks Behind The Rows, believed to be responsible for all the cornfield’s crops’ success.
The movie is notable for being one of the first adaptations of Stephen King novels and stories. King’s work had been popular in literature, and Hollywood was waiting to see how his unique writing style would translate onto the big screen. However, some of his earlier adaptations were not well-received by critics, such as The Shining and Carrie, which were gruesome enough to be termed “elevated horror.” Critics were expecting more of the same with Children of the Corn and were surprised to see a more restrained, atmospheric film. Nevertheless, the movie garnered a cult following and spawned eight sequels, some of which were direct-to-video.
The themes of religion, children’s innocence, and corrupt leadership are explored in the movie. Isaac and his followers represent manipulation, as he deceives his fellow children and convinces them that the sacrifices are necessary to fulfill their mission’s ‘greater good.’ The concept of a community sacrificing outsiders to appease a higher power draws parallels to real-life phenomenon such as Jonestown and the Manson family. The movie also touches on the idea of the evil in children’s innocence; the appearance of children, who are supposed to represent purity and innocence, is a source of horror in the movie.
The cinematography of the movie is often praised; the film’s haunting landscape and setting become their character. The cornfield, which is a stereotypical symbol of the American heartland, becomes an ominous and foreboding setting. The wide, open spaces that are usually associated with freedom and adventure fuel the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a town with killer children. The atmosphere is dark, foreboding, and the town feels like it’s cut off from the rest of the world.
Overall, Children of the Corn remains an influential movie in the horror genre. It helped establish Stephen King as a prolific horror writer and remains a favorite of his many fans. The film succeeds in creating a creeping sense of dread, which is at the heart of any good horror movie. Although it may not be as gory as some of the more popular horror movies, the story’s themes and setting are enough to make it a classic. Though some of its sequels failed to meet expectations, the original remains a scary, atmospheric film that horror movie lovers should not miss.