5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Children of the Corn (1984)

Source: New World Pictures

Welcome to the cornfields, where the children are in charge and the adults are nowhere to be found. “Children of the Corn” is a classic horror film that has scared audiences for over three decades. Here are 5 fun facts about the movie that you might not have known:

1. The Short Story

The movie was based on a short story by Stephen King: “Children of the Corn” is based on a short story by horror master Stephen King, which was first published in 1977 in Penthouse magazine. The story was later included in King’s 1978 collection “Night Shift.” The movie adaptation, directed by Fritz Kiersch, was released in 1984.

2. Iowa

The movie was filmed in Iowa: Despite being set in Nebraska, “Children of the Corn” was actually filmed in Iowa. The town of Whiting was used for the exterior shots of Gatlin, while the interior shots were filmed in the nearby town of Sioux City. The cornfields, of course, were real.

3. Sarah Connor

“Children of the Corn” was Linda Hamilton’s first leading role in a movie. She had previously appeared in small roles in TV shows and movies, but “Children of the Corn” was her big break. She went on to star in the “Terminator” franchise and many other movies and TV shows.

4. Darker Ending

The movie’s original ending was changed: The original ending of “Children of the Corn” was much darker than the one that made it into the final cut. In the original ending, Burt and Vicky are killed by the children, and the final shot is of the children driving away in Burt’s car. However, test audiences found the ending too bleak, so it was changed to the more upbeat ending that we see in the movie today.

5. New Blood

Fritz Kiersch, the director of “Children of the Corn,” had never directed a feature film before. He had previously directed a few short films and music videos, but “Children of the Corn” was his first foray into feature filmmaking. Kiersch was initially approached to direct the movie after one of his short films caught the attention of producer Donald P. Borchers.

Despite his lack of experience with feature films, Kiersch was able to bring a unique vision to the movie that has helped it stand the test of time.

“Children of the Corn” remains a classic horror movie that still manages to scare audiences today. Whether you’re a fan of Stephen King, Linda Hamilton, or just good old-fashioned horror, “Children of the Corn” is a must-see movie.