Children of the Corn

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This article is on the short story Children of the Corn. For the hip-hop group of the same name, see Children of the Corn (band).

Children of the Corn is a short story by Stephen King. Originally published in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse magazine, it later became part of King's Night Shift short story collection.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

A couple has set out on a cross-country road trip in a failing effort to save their disintegrating marriage. While driving in rural Nebraska, they hit the body of a young boy who was killed and thrown onto the road. Looking for the authorities, they continue on to the next spot on the map: Gatlin, a small, isolated town that seems to be abandoned. Too late, they learn that years previously the town's children murdered all of the local adults after embracing the bloody pseudo-Christian cult of an evil being that lurks in the corn fields (known only as "He Who Walks Behind the Rows") which demands everyone above 19 years old be sacrificed to it. The children kill the wife, while the husband escapes into the cornfield, only to personally meet his end at the hands of the children's god.

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Films

The story was first adapted into film as Disciples of the Crow. The story was later adapted into a film of the same name as the original story in 1984, starring Linda Hamilton. This version ended with the husband setting the corn field on fire, destroying He-Who-Walks-Behind-The-Rows (temporarily, at least). Several sequels to it have been made, loosely based on the original story. King has often tried to disassociate himself from these movies, due to the generally low quality of these films. Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts, Eva Mendes and Nicholas Brendon have all appeared in one of the sequels. Other well known actors who have made sequel appearances include Nancy Allen, Stacy Keach, Karen Black, David Carradine, Fred Williamson and Michael Ironside.