Blu-ray Review: CHILDREN OF THE CORN (1984)

CHILDREN OF THE CORN
Directed by Fritz Kiersch
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

 I was super excited to hear that CHILDREN OF THE CORN was getting the Arrow Video Blu-ray treatment.  I saw this film about 20 years ago, but hadn't seen it since, so I was looking forward to checking this film out again.  If you're not familiar with the story, here is the basic plot from the MVD website:

   A young couple on a road trip find themselves lost in the back roads of rural Nebraska, eventually winding up in the seemingly abandoned town of Gatlin. But the town is far from empty - as the pair soon discover, it's inhabited by a twisted cult of murderous children thirsty for another blood sacrifice...
  Adapted from King's eponymous short story first published in 1977 and starring Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Children of the Corn has gone on to spawn one of the most enduring horror franchises of all time.

  Movies featuring creepy kids have always been a favorite of mine. There is just something so creepy about killer kids.  I guess since kids are supposed to be so nice and innocent, that it is extra scary to see them like this.  CHILDREN OF THE CORN is full of creepy kids, and the film starts off with a bang when it shows you the day the kids killed all the adults and took over the town of Gatlin.   This was an extremely disturbing and effective scene, and did a remarkable job of setting the tone for the rest of the film.   The film then jumps to present day when the traveling adults get lost and find themselves in the worst place imaginable,  the town of Gatlin.

  Aside from the opening scene, the film is rather tame, with little gore throughout the rest of the film.  The film maintains it's intensity and sense of terror throughout the film's running time, though.   This is easily one of my favorite Stephen King film adaptations, although I'll be honest....I've never read the short story this film is based on.  Because of that, I can not speak to how well the film matches up with the original story.  On it's own it is an extremely entertaining film that I highly recommend.  
 
  The new Arrow  Blu-ray video quality is amazing.  The 2K restoration is beautiful and looks like it was shot just recently.  It's amazing to think this film is over 30 years old!   This new Blu-ray is a must have in your horror collection!

 CHILDREN OF THE CORN is available now on Blu-ray from Arrow Films and MVD Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
*  Original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio options
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Brand new 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 - retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Fritz Kiersch, John Franklin and Courtney Gains
*  It Was the Eighties! - an interview with actress Linda Hamilton
*  And a Child Shall Lead Them - a brand new interview with actors Julie Maddalena and John Philbin
*  Field of Nightmares - a brand new interview with writer George Goldsmith
*  Stephen King on a Shoestring - an interview with producer Donald P. Borchers
*  Welcome to Gatlin: The Sights & Sounds of Children of the Corn - interviews with production designer Craig Stearns and composer Jonathan Elias
*  Return to Gatlin - a look back at the iconic filming locations in Iowa with host John Sullivan
*  Cut from the Cornfield - an interview with actor Rich Kleinberg on the infamous 'lost' Blue Man Scene
*  Disciples of the Crow - 1983 short film adaptation of Stephen King's story
*  Storyboard gallery
*  Original theatrical trailer
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
*  FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Fully illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Sullivan and Lee Gambin 
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray