Children of the Corn

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Children of the Corn

R

1984

1h 33m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

36%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

As physician Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Linda Hamilton), drive across the Midwest to his new job, their trip comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, Burt and Vicky wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner (John Franklin). Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

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Critics Consensus

Children of the Corn's strong premise and beginning gets shucked away for a kiddie thriller that runs in circles.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12

A love-it-or-leave-it slice of 80’s horror with kernels of camp and creepy dispensed in equal measure.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

12/16/2024

4/10

Any viewer seeking a provocative thriller about children collectively murdering their parents is honestly spoiled for choice, and almost all of them are probably better ones than this.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

09/20/2023

3/5

Descends into some hokey territory that feels quite a ways off from the original story, but the earlier chunks of the narrative manage to honor the source material and its commentaries on organized religion.

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

03/02/2023

2.5/4

Well-directed if stolid...

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

10/01/2022

With today’s growing political environment and in its current form, the original is a terrifying depiction of real life, a timeless film that continually retains its relevance.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/19/2022

2.5/5

Despite very much being a movie of its time, there is something about director Fritz Kiersch’s folk horror feature from 1984 that I still find enjoyable.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch 4d

Children of the Corn is a classic horror film that delivers genuinely unsettling moments and a disturbing concept that still holds weight. The idea of a rural town overtaken by violent, indoctrinated children is inherently creepy, and the film leans into that discomfort effectively. There are scenes that feel bold even by today’s standards, making you wonder how they were ever approved at the time. The direction and writing work well together, slowly revealing the madness beneath the surface. The cornfields become a symbol of danger, turning wide-open spaces into something claustrophobic and threatening. The children feel unhinged rather than exaggerated, which helps ground the horror and make it more effective. Over the years, the franchise has been diluted by countless sequels and remakes, making it harder for audiences to connect with the series. That only highlights how strong the original is. It’s dynamic and not perfect but fun.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 27

I really liked this one, despite it's terrible ratings. I found it really good.

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Ry N

@RyGuy Oct 29

A couple find themselves in a small town ran by a satanic cult of kids. I enjoyed it up unitl the paranormal stuff.

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Andre L

Sep 20

A classic with creepy kids and story.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Sep 3

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Jace T

@CineChamber Aug 5

While the religious and cult like themes in Children of the Corn are moderately interesting, this film just does not hold up very well by todays standards. There is really nothing very scary about it, but maybe back in 1984, the premise alone was frightening enough. It is fun watching a bunch of kids be murderous, but the two main adults we follow who come to the town a pretty terrible. Isaac, the kid prophet, is the most interesting character in the whole movie.

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Fritz Kiersch

Director

Peter Horton

Burton Stanton

Linda Hamilton

Vicky

R. G. Armstrong

Diehl

John Franklin

Isaac Chroner

Courtney Gains

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Children of the Corn: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

As physician Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Linda Hamilton), drive across the Midwest to his new job, their trip comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, Burt and Vicky wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner (John Franklin). Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

Director: Fritz Kiersch
Producer: Terrence Kirby, Donald P. Borchers
Screenwriter: George Goldsmith, Stephen King
Distributor: Embassy Pictures, Starmaker Video, Image Entertainment Inc., New World Pictures, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Co: Hal Roach Studios Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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