Children of the Corn is an 2009 American supernatural slasher film directed and written by Donald P. Borchers. It is based on the 1977 short story of the same name by Stephen King, the eighth installment of the film series, and a remake of the 1984 film. It was released on September 26, 2009, on the cable television channel Syfy. Set primarily in 1975 in the fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska, the film centers on traveling couple Burt and Vicky as they fight to survive a cult of murderous children who worship an entity known as He Who Walks Behind the Rows, which had years earlier manipulated the children into killing every adult in town.
Plot
In 1963, the town of Gatlin, Nebraska, suffers a severe drought. In a tent, a boy preacher claims that a god, whom he calls "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" has spoken to him in his dreams. He tells the other children.
Twelve years later, a bickering couple, Burt and his wife Vicky, are driving near Gatlin, planning their second honeymoon. A boy named Joseph stumbles out of the roadside corn in front of their car. Burt finds Joseph's bloodied suitcase. He and Vicky drive off searching for aid. Reaching the town, Burt and Vicky find it seemingly abandoned, except for the children.
Cast
David Anders as Burt
Kandyse McClure as Vicky
Remington Jennings as Joseph / Ahaz
Daniel Newman as Malachai
Preston Bailey as Isaac
Alexa Nikolas as Ruth
Robert Gerdisch as Preacher Boy
Jordan Schmidt as Bloody Knife Boy
Isabelle Fuhrman as additional voices
Leo Howard as additional voices
Production
Writing
While working on the 1984 film as a producer, Donald P. Borchers was originally content with it, though in hindsight came to believe it was too "Hollywoodized" and not true enough to the original short story. Wanting Stephen King to be involved in the production of the new film, Borchers sent a copy of the script to him, only to receive a letter from King's attorney stating that King wanted no part in the film; however, when attempting to sort out writing credits, Borchers sent a DVD copy to King who watched the film and approved his screenwriting credit.
Filming
Casting started two weeks before production began. Unlike in the original film, in which the bulk of the cultists were portrayed by actors over eighteen, Borchers decided to cast age-appropriate actors. He has stated that dealing with the largely underage cast was the most difficult part of making the film.
The film was filmed in Lost Nation, Iowa and Rural Oxford Junction, Iowa area. Borchers said he chose the Iowa and Illinois area after receiving a recommendation from the Iowa Film Office in the state Department of Economic Development. Shooting took place in and around the Quad Cities during September 2008.
Release
The film premiered on Syfy on September 26, 2009, and was released uncut on DVD by Anchor Bay on October 6. The DVD included such features as interviews with cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage. A Blu-ray release followed on November 16, 2010.