Peter Horton of 'thirtysomething' and Linda Hamilton of the "Terminator" series star as Burt & Vicky, amiable couple traveling the back roads of rural America. They are waylaid by the murdering children of a tiny Nebraska town called Gatlin, children who began praying to a mysterious entity dubbed He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and slaughtered all the adults three years ago because they believe that that's what He commanded.
The beginning of a surprisingly lucrative film series, spawning several sequels and more than one remake, "Children of the Corn" is a comedown from earlier Stephen King adaptations (this is based on one of his short stories). Overall, it's cheesy and utterly laughable, and hardly scary. But it's the very tackiness and absurdity of the film that makes it so damn hilarious and FUN. You sure can't take it seriously.
Hamilton is endearing, while Horton is required to be your typical Stubborn Dummy who won't get out of town while the getting is good. Old pro R. G. Armstrong ("Predator") is typically solid in a brief bit as the aged proprietor of a run-down service station. Standing out, in their film debuts, are the young men playing the antagonists: John Franklin ("The Addams Family"), a 24 year old playing a 12 year old, who's priceless and creepy as Isaac, the boy preacher ordering these kids around, and Courtney Gains ("The 'Burbs") as his thuggish henchman Malachai. John Philbin ("The Return of the Living Dead") also makes an appearance, as a 19 year old all too willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Robby Kiger ("The Monster Squad") and Anne Marie McEvoy ('Invitation to Hell') are appealing as basically the only two GOOD kids in town.
The film never does top its opening set piece, the bloody murder of the adults in Gatlin, but it does provide plenty of laughs, so that's at least good for something. Overall, it's a waste of excellent art direction, by Craig Stearns, and haunting music, by Jonathan Elias (not to mention a message about the danger of blindly following a leader).
Worth watching if you are a Stephen King completist, or just want to have a bunch of chuckles for 93 minutes.
Five out of 10.
The beginning of a surprisingly lucrative film series, spawning several sequels and more than one remake, "Children of the Corn" is a comedown from earlier Stephen King adaptations (this is based on one of his short stories). Overall, it's cheesy and utterly laughable, and hardly scary. But it's the very tackiness and absurdity of the film that makes it so damn hilarious and FUN. You sure can't take it seriously.
Hamilton is endearing, while Horton is required to be your typical Stubborn Dummy who won't get out of town while the getting is good. Old pro R. G. Armstrong ("Predator") is typically solid in a brief bit as the aged proprietor of a run-down service station. Standing out, in their film debuts, are the young men playing the antagonists: John Franklin ("The Addams Family"), a 24 year old playing a 12 year old, who's priceless and creepy as Isaac, the boy preacher ordering these kids around, and Courtney Gains ("The 'Burbs") as his thuggish henchman Malachai. John Philbin ("The Return of the Living Dead") also makes an appearance, as a 19 year old all too willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Robby Kiger ("The Monster Squad") and Anne Marie McEvoy ('Invitation to Hell') are appealing as basically the only two GOOD kids in town.
The film never does top its opening set piece, the bloody murder of the adults in Gatlin, but it does provide plenty of laughs, so that's at least good for something. Overall, it's a waste of excellent art direction, by Craig Stearns, and haunting music, by Jonathan Elias (not to mention a message about the danger of blindly following a leader).
Worth watching if you are a Stephen King completist, or just want to have a bunch of chuckles for 93 minutes.
Five out of 10.
