Children of the Corn (2023)
another take on a Stephen King Classic
Children of the Corn is the latest adaption of one of Stephen King’s earliest short stories, the eerie tale of a child cult inhabiting a forgotten Nebraska town. There have been a whopping eleven Children of the Corn movies, starting with the 1984 original starring Linda Hamilton. The series’ longevity is remarkable, especially considering the negative reception it has consistently received.
This remake is the latest attempt to do this creepy story justice. Is it any better than its predecessors? Unfortunately, no. It shouldn’t be this hard to turn one of King’s best short stories into an effective film.
Family Strife and Supernatural Terror in a Small Rural Town
The main character is Boleyn “Bo” Williams (Elena Kampouris), a restless teenager who longs to flee from her boring rural town. She clashes with her dad and brother about various philosophical issues, but we don’t care because the movie never gives us a reason to give a damn about any of these people.
Early in the film, the town’s farmers gather together and decide to destroy their corn crops in order to receive a government subsidy. The movie makes a brief nod to contemporary farm controversies over the use of herbicides and GMO’s, but has nothing of value to say about these subjects.
A child cult, led by a menacing little girl named Eden (Kate Moyer), is infuriated by the farmers’ plans. The kids are determined to protect the corn at all costs. After the cult seizes control of the town, it’s up to Bo to save what’s left of her community from destruction.
The kids worship a malevolent supernatural creature named He Who Walks. The monster is just as scary as the kids, which is to say, not frightening at all. A giant cornstalk beast would be an interesting antagonist in a better film.
Children of the Corn was written and directed by Kurt Wimmer. Unfortunately, Wimmer is unable to build any tension or suspense. The script is bland and predictable. The shallow characterizations make it difficult to relate to any of the characters. Characters make illogical decisions based purely on what the plot requires of them.
At least the cinematography is good. This is a good-looking movie in an aesthetic sense. The farms and cornfields are beautiful. Children of the Corn doesn’t have much going for it, but it is visually appealing.
Rating
Striking cinematography aside, Children of the Corn has virtually nothing to offer. It is a pointless and dull remake that adds yet another dud to one of horror’s worst franchises.
Rating from 1 (avoid at all costs) to 10 (masterpiece) 3
