Reviewed by Alicia Glass

Studio: Angeles Entertainment

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Fritz Kiersch

Review Rating: 7

The town of Gatlin, Nebraska, harbors a dangerous band of religious fanatics who have sworn to kill everyone over the age of 19!

Spawning a whole host of sequels and remakes, Children of the Corn was originally a Stephen King story. A young couple of adults, needing to make a report to the police, find themselves stuck in Gatlin, where the population is comprised of children, led by the charismatic (and rather insane) boy preacher Isaac (John Franklin). Isaac has led the children of Gatlin in the ways of his own brand of faith, for He Who Walks Behind the Rows, a demon out there in the corn fields who demands bloody sacrifice and unquestioning obedience. Of course Malachai (Courtney Gains), Isaac’s second in command, wants to take over the leadership. The younger children who haven’t been indoctrinated quite as hard take pity on our young couple Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton), but that only lasts for so long. Nevermind that the final showdown looks like a revival meeting at a Puritan camp for children, the sacrifice of “the blue man” screams that our young phoneless couple is next!

I’ve seen all the sequels and remakes. Some are better than others, but the underlying story is always the same – murderous Puritanical children and cornfield demons. Which is fairly terrifying, come to think of it. This first film story, while it may be older and lack some polish, stands in a unique position of original creativity. And on Halloween, that’s awesome.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6z1D4gVp4]