One of many early-'80s Stephen King "quickie"
adaptations dashed off to cash in on the
prolific horror author at the peak of his
popularity, New World Pictures' Children of the
Corn takes one of King's published short stories
as its source material. Stranded in the rural
town of Gatlin, Nebraska, the protagonists
(Linda Hamilton & Peter Horton) fall into the
sinister little mitts of a bizarre religious
cult composed entirely of children. Having
murdered the town's adult population at the
command of their leader Isaac (the
spooky-looking John Franklin), the children
perform blood sacrifices to their
cornfield-dwelling deity -- known only as "He
Who Walks Behind The Rows" -- with their two new
visitors next in line for crucifixion. This
rather colorless adaptation somehow spawned five
belated sequels (none of which took the material
in any interesting directions either) and serves
to remind Linda Hamilton fans how far her skills
have developed in the years to follow.
Directed by: Fritz
Kiersch
Written by: George
Goldsmith
Produced by: Donald
P. Borchers, Earl A. Glick, Terence Kirby, Mark
Lipson
Original music by:
Jonathan Elias
Cast:
Peter Horton .... Burt
Robeson
Linda Hamilton .... Vicky
R.G. Armstrong .... Diehl
John Franklin .... Isaac Chroner
Courtney Gains .... Malachai
Robby Kiger .... Job
Julie Maddalena .... Rachel
Jonas Marlowe .... Joseph
John Philbin .... Amos
Dan Snook .... Boy
David Cowen .... Dad
Suzy Southam .... Mom
Eric Freeman .... Israel
D.G. Johnson .... Mr. Hansen
Patrick Boylan .... Hansen's Customer
Elmer Soderstrom .... Hansen's Customer
Teresa Toigo .... Hansen's Customer
Mitch Carter .... Radio Preacher
Anne Marie McEvoy .... Sarah
