Oc-Terror: Children of the Corn

    What are some of the things that may frighten even the hardest of people? Maybe an unassailable force, barreling down on an unexpected victim? Or maybe a devious entity, whose sole purpose is the drive all your fears and insecurities to the surface? Or maybe, just maybe, something truly malignant hiding behind the mask of something it is not? Children of the Corn postulates that maybe the influences of previous generations may indeed be an evil force seeking to destroy that which may help the next generations grow. Based on a Stephen King story, it does it's job well. Malignancy and insidious intentions hiding behind the guise of an ancient belief that the children adhere to, leading to the death and destruction of those that could teach them otherwise, adult or no.

SYNOPSIS: Burt and Vickie are on their way to Seattle, with Burt taking up a new Physician practice. Passing through Nebraska, they come across a town called Gatlin, and decide to stay the night. But the couple discover something strange in the town: the entire adult population has gone missing, and their children run every aspect, including their beloved corn fields. What Burt and Vickie do not realize, however, is that the children have a far more malicious intent for the newly arrived adults. For their leader, Isaac, has decreed, as their prophet for He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows, that sacrifices must be made, and only the blood of adults can feed Him. In a frightening mad dash for survival, can the couple survive not only the human children who seek their death, but also the thing desiring their blood in the first place?

WHAT MAKES THIS FILM WORK?:

    Surprisingly enough, this film delivers on it's expected premise. By no means a great film, it indeed reaps it due in surprising tension and overall ability to separate you from what you originally go into it for. John Franklin as Isaac is effective as the emissary for He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows, because he is able to deliver an evil fervor that most children, at his age, only take to simple bratty tantrums. Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton are both really good casting choices, as well as Isaac's Lieutenant, Malachi, who, as one of the oldest kids in the film, secretly has his own intentions for the belief structure. For the most part, the film is well made, and the soundtrack is passable, but the main thing that sticks out to people who remember the film is the costuming: simple farmer garb (akin to, say,Quakers or Amish folk) that is kept immaculate, except for scenes of actual gore and bodily destruction.

COSTUME RECOMMENDATION: Younger or more "innocent looking" people. The entire premise is "Innocent looking rural children covered in dirt and gore from other people". Again, to some, it's actually more disturbing than a werewolf or guy with a chainsaw.

    Here's the basic costume list if you go as one of the Children of the Corn.

FOR MALES: You need a wide brimmed hat, simple (white, gray, or blue) dress shirt (sans pocket), comfortable pair of slacks or dress pants, decent pair of dress shoes, suspenders, a dark sports coat or dress coat, and something more akin to gentrified hair styling (if you want to got THAT far). Some accessories would include some "blood stains" on your person, a farming implement (pitchfork, sickle, mini-sledgehammer, etc.) with some blood on it, or some dirt on your face, neck or arms.

FOR FEMALES: A simple country dress (again with some possible accessories), an apron (especially with the recommended accessories), a comfortable pair of flats, and a bonnet or simple gentrified head garb. If you have shorter hair, then a wig may be in order for the evening.

    Still an enjoyable film, the first Children of the Corn series, unfortunately, suffers from the rule of sequel-itis. It's best to stick with the first film, in my opinion, although the other films do have their moments. But the rest are unable to match the overall mood of the first, and it shows. The series is on the list of films to be remade, so there might be potentially good news for fans of the series in the future. Keep an eye (and an EAR) out for that in the near future.

    When next we meet, we will unwrap the mystery of the classic 1933 Universal film The Invisible Man. Hope to (un)see you soon!