Children of the Corn Trilogy Review

4 star bumper boxset of classic horror.

Children of the Corn is a franchise which grew up around the Stephen King (Castle Rock, Pet Sematary) short story of the same name from his collection Night Shift. The first three films are presented here in High Definition Blu-ray for the first time in the UK as well as an Ultra High Definition 4K restoration of the original film courtesy of Arrow Video.

“And a child shall lead them…”

Children of the Corn was originally released in 1984, directed by Fritz Kiersch (Into the Sun) with screenplay by George Goldsmith (Nowhere to Hide). The film opens in the town of Gatlin, Nebraska where a young newcomer to town Isaac (John Franklin – The Addams Family) has involved the local children in a dangerous cult, worshipping He Who Walks Behind the Rows. He has managed to persuade them that anyone over the age of 18 must die and obediently they rise up and slaughter all the adults in the town

Burt (Peter Horton – The Dust Factory) and his girlfriend Vicky (Linda Hamilton – The Terminator, Dante’s Peak) are heading across country when a series of mishaps leads them to the town of Gatlin, where they come across the cult and the dangerously unhinged Malachi (Courtney Gains – The ‘Burbs, Can’t Buy Me Love).

“Malachi took us right to Isaac. I figured he finally talked the little squirt into punishing us for being unbelievers. Up until then, we’d been forgiven because we weren’t in the corn the day He Who Walks Behind the Rows made himself known.”

Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice was originally released in 1992, eight years after the first film. It was directed by David Price (Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde) and written by Gilbert Adler (Bordello of Blood) and A. L. Katz (The Outer Limits, Tales From the Crypt). Set directly after the events of the first film, the media circus has come to Gatlin.

The bodies have all been discovered and the orphaned children are relocated with families in the neighbouring town of Hemingford. Unfortunately for the well meaning locals, the children have returned to the cornfield, where He Who Walks Behind the Rows has possessed Micah (Ryan Bollman – Only the Strong). Into this dangerous situation comes Garrett (Terence Knox – The Hunters) and his estranged son Danny (Paul Scherrer – Standoff), who are immediately taken with locals Angela (Rosalind Allen – Hijack) and Lacey (Christie Clark – Days of Our Lives).

“One day I caught my father with the farmhand’s wife, sinning most vigorously.”

Despite the title of the second film, Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest was released in 1995, directed by James D.R. Hickox – Detention) and written by Dode B. Levenson (Mutual Needs). In the third instalment, the tale of Gatlin continues as two young boys from the town are adopted by a couple from Chicago. Amanda (Nancy Lee Grahn – General Hospital) and William (Jim Metzler – What Matters Most) are excited to welcome Joshua (Ron Melendez – The Advocate) and his brother Eli (Daniel Cerny – Fearless) into their home.

However, it soon becomes apparent that they will struggle to fit in here, with their strict upbringing and Eli’s insistence on growing corn that he brought with him in the nearby factory. Will he introduce He Who Walks Behind the Rows to the big city?

“He had told us when there were no more adults we would see the truth. Where is it?”

Children of the Corn Trilogy Limited Edition is a great box set, packed with extras and special features. As for the films themselves, watching them all together highlights the massive differences between them. The first film remains as terrifying as it ever was, even the rubbish special effects don’t detract from the fear factor.

The second film was made many years later and very much reflects the era. It’s more of a comedy in places and features some of the most inventive ways of bumping off the elderly ever seen on film, as well as an awful lot of intent staring, plus a bit of death by whittling, very entertaining.

The third film followed the fashion for taking any story and transplanting into a city and is about as silly as you would expect it to be. It also features what is possibly one of the most ridiculous endings to a horror film ever. It’s very obvious that the only connection between the three was a short story written many years before.

However, they are all three extremely gory and all really good fun to watch in their own way. This is an excellent release and will grace the collection of any horror fan.

“I saw the corn. Their blood was for the corn.”

Children of the Corn Trilogy On Limited Edition Blu-ray Boxset + Children of the Corn on UHD 27 September

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

● High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all three films
● 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of Children of the Corn
● Alternate cuts of Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice and Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest
● DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio options for all three films
● Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
● 60-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by John Sullivan, Lee Gambin, Stacie Ponder, Craig Martin and Guy Adams
● Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin

DISC 1 – CHILDREN OF THE CORN (BLU-RAY / 4K UHD BLU-RAY)

● Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films
● Audio commentary with horror journalist Justin Beahm and Children of the Corn historian John Sullivan
● Audio commentary with director Fritz Kiersch, producer Terrence Kirby and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains
● Harvesting Horror: The Making of Children of the Corn – retrospective piece featuring interviews with director Fritz Kiersch and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains
● It Was the Eighties! – an interview with actress Linda Hamilton
● Return to Gatlin – brand new featurette revisiting the film’s original Iowa shooting locations
● Stephen King on a Shoestring – an interview with producer Donald Borchers
● Welcome to Gatlin: The Sights and Sounds of Children of the Corn – an interview with production designer Craig Stearns and composer Jonathan Elias
● Cut from the Cornfield – an interview with the actor who played “The Blue Man” in the fabled excised sequence
● Theatrical Trailer
● Disciples of the Crow, a 1983 short film adaptation of Stephen King’s short story

DISC 2 – CHILDREN OF THE CORN II: THE FINAL SACRIFICE (BLU-RAY)

● Two versions of the film: the International Cut, and the US Theatrical Cut with additional CGI and an alternate audio mix (via seamless branching)
● Brand new audio commentary by critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
● Brand new audio commentary by critic Lee Gambin, in conversation with director David Price
● A New Harvest, a brand new interview with director David Price
● Sowing the Seeds of Terror, a brand new interview with co-screenwriter A.L. Katz
● Framing Fear, a brand new interview with cinematographer Levie Isaacks
● Workprint version of the film
● Stills gallery
● Theatrical Trailer

DISC 3 – CHILDREN OF THE CORN III: URBAN HARVEST (BLU-RAY)

● Two versions of the film, the R-rated US Cut and the Unrated International Cut with extended ending (via seamless branching)
● Brand new audio commentary by critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
● Corn in the City, a brand new interview with screenwriter Dode Leveson
● Corn in the USA, a brand new visual essay by author and critic Guy Adams
● Early treatments, versions of the story from the development process
● Stills Galleries
● Theatrical Trailer

Extras subject to change