31 More Days of Horror: Children of the Corn (1984)

Based on the short story from Stephen King, Children of the Corn is weirdly creepy. Or not. Kids lurking in the corn fields preying on adults with crazy farm implements. The film is dated, but the scares are there--if you let them.

As the fornicators arrive in town (Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton) and clip a boy trying to escape the corn-worshiping weirdos, the film amps up. Isolated in the Midwest, among rows of glaring cornstalks--well, that's enough for me. Knowing there's an ankle-biter lurking with a scythe makes it worse. That's effective creep.

 The religion angle is weak, I think. The children are a wee melodramatic. The score as well. Still the bleak little town is oddly charming and soul-less. Malachi is ho-hum vicious. And what's with Mike Tee-Vee?!
One of the best scenes is the hand making it's way to the meat slicer. Sandwich, anyone? 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' gets it down in a deliciously cheesy way.

Sadly, the film pales in comparison to the short story which contains a far more brutal ending. This film is crap by modern standards. Children of the Corn is only an effective scare if you let the nostalgia take control.