Vertigo Releasing, out on digital now

Possessed by a spirit in a dying cornfield, 12-year-old Eden recruits the other children in her small town to rise and take control. 

It’s hard to believe that Stephen King’s short story Children of the Corn was only seven years old when first adapted into Fritz Kiersch’s 1984 movie starring Linda Hamilton. Sequels and remakes followed, and now we have the 11th feature, Kurt Wimmer’s 2020 take on it.

Rylstone is a small farming community (no longer Gatlin from the story) whose principal crop is failing despite the use of chemicals. The adults agree to destroy their crops so they can receive a government subsidy, but the children think otherwise. Sadly, this sociopolitical backdrop is only touched upon before this predictable nonsense plays out .

If you’re going to change the names of the characters and the location, what’s left of the original story? Sure, there’s still the demonic He Who Walks, rendered here as a jerky stick man, but there’s no suspense or horror. Eden (Kate Moyer) isn’t scary, just a naughty little girl, and final girl Bo (Elena Kampouris) frequently looks more bewildered than terrified.

Verdict: Unnecessary and devoid of tension. Avoid. 2/10

Nick Joy