What Makes Stephen King’s ‘Children of The Corn’ So Evil?

In 1976, Stephen King’s adaptation of ‘Carrie’ marked his rise as a pivotal figure in Hollywood horror. This success continued with iconic works like ‘Salem’s Lot’, ‘Cujo’, and ‘Dead Zone’, establishing King as an influential figure in the genre that others would strive to emulate. In 1984, King brought his short story ‘Children of the Corn’ to the screen, captivating audiences with its chilling portrayal of eerie children, a deadly cult, and the forsaken town of Gatlin, Nebraska.

While some argue the film has aged, a new adaptation set for March this year promises to refresh its terrifying premise. The core concept remains deeply unsettling: children staging a violent uprising, slaughtering all adults in their town as a sacrificial offering to a demonic force. Central to the horror is the mysterious entity known as ‘He Who Walks Behind The Rows,’ manipulating the children into committing atrocities in its name.

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‘Children of the Corn’ unfolds in Gatlin, a rural Nebraska town reliant on its corn harvests. When crops fail, the desperate community turns to prayer, unwittingly summoning Isaac Chroner, a teenage zealot who indoctrinates the children into his apocalyptic vision. Led by Isaac and his ruthless enforcer Malachai, the children eliminate all adult authority figures and any outsiders who stumble upon their isolated domain.

Years later, travellers Burt and Vicky find themselves ensnared in Gatlin’s nightmare when their journey inadvertently intersects with the cult’s deadly rituals. Isaac’s charisma and manipulation are central to the narrative, exploiting the children’s vulnerability and twisting their innocence into malevolent obedience to their demonic deity.

‘He Who Walks Behind The Rows’ embodies pure evil, leveraging the children’s fear and desperation to maintain control. Manifesting through the cornfields and wielding supernatural powers, the entity demands horrific sacrifices and resurrects its victims as mindless servants, perpetuating a cycle of terror and bloodshed.

Stephen King’s ‘Children of the Corn’ continues to resonate for its exploration of unchecked evil and the manipulation of youth. As new adaptations emerge, they promise to reimagine this classic tale while retaining its haunting essence and timeless themes of innocence corrupted and the depths of human depravity.

–Farheen Ali