Children of the Corn
Movie, 1984, The '70s and '80s, Set in Gatlin, Nebraska
Children of the Corn is #8 of 42 in release order and #5 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
A traveling couple end up in an abandoned Nebraska town inhabited by a cult of murderous children who worship a demon that lives in the local cornfields.
Children of the Corn recap
Children of the Corn (1984) strands a young couple in Gatlin, Nebraska, a farm town where the children have murdered every adult in the name of a corn god. Fritz Kiersch directs Peter Horton as Burt, a newly qualified doctor, and Linda Hamilton as his girlfriend Vicky. On their way to Seattle, they hit a boy who has already had his throat cut while running from the corn. Seeking help, they find Gatlin deserted. Three years earlier, a boy preacher named Isaac (John Franklin) led the children to kill the adults and worship He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and every child must give themselves to the god at 19. His enforcer Malachai (Courtney Gains) captures Vicky to crucify her in the corn. Burt is helped by two children who reject the cult, Job (Robby Kiger) and his sister Sarah (Anne Marie McEvoy), who draws visions of what is coming.
Children of the Corn ending explained
Children of the Corn ends with the cornfield burning. Malachai turns on Isaac and offers him as a sacrifice instead, and Isaac is taken by the god, returning possessed to kill Malachai. Burt rescues Vicky, then floods the field's irrigation system with gasoline and set it alight, destroying the creature. Burt, Vicky, Job and Sarah leave the ruined town together, the two children now in the couple's care.
Post-credits scenes
No. Children of the Corn has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Children of the Corn
Children of the Corn is streaming on Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, The CW, YouTube (free), and Plex in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 5.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 38%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Cujo, before Firestarter.
- Chronological order: after Christine, before Firestarter.
What to watch before Children of the Corn
In release order, the essentials before Children of the Corn (1984) are Carrie (1976), Salem's Lot (1979), Creepshow (1982), and Christine (1983).
Cast
- Peter Horton as Burton Stanton
- Linda Hamilton as Vicky
- R.G. Armstrong as Diehl
- John Franklin as Isaac Chroner
- Courtney Gains as Malachai
- Anne Marie McEvoy as Sarah
- Robby Kiger as Job
- Julie Maddalena as Rachel
- Jonas Marlowe as Joseph
- John Philbin as Amos
- Dan Snook as Boy
- David Cowen as Dad
Directed by Fritz Kiersch.