There are several Children of the Corn movies, but one 1983 short film is the best of the bunch. The newer adaptations haven’t gotten much love from critics or audiences, and the original 1984 film is the best-known interpretation of Stephen King’s short story of the same name. This is mainly due to the story featuring a heavy message that doesn’t always translate well to the screen.
Few have been able to properly convey King’s message from his short story, which is why the Children of the Corn‘s sequels are not critically acclaimed. Like many horror sequels and reboots, they prove that, sometimes, it’s better to leave well enough alone rather than dragging a story out. However, the Children of the Corn franchise contains one forgotten short film that actually did King’s work justice.
The Children Of The Corn Short Film Disciples Of The Crow Explained
1983’s Disciples of the Crow is a short film that adapts King’s “Children of the Corn” story. The film follows the source material pretty closely, though Disciples of the Crow concludes with a more optimistic ending, as neither Burt nor Vicky dies in the adaptation. Like the short story, Disciples of the Crow highlights the darker side of spirituality and religion, showcasing what can happen when its members become power-hungry and violent. Despite spirituality’s base in love and acceptance, it can sometimes turn people into zealots, and Disciples of the Crow perfectly illustrates this point.
As a short film, Disciples of the Crow gets straight to the point and doesn’t linger on any unnecessary scenes or storylines. While there isn’t much room for it to elaborate on deeper plots, this is actually a good thing because it prevents the film from losing its message. One crucial scene sees Burt discovering the Bible with the messages of the Corn God and getting caught. The images in the book allow the film to capture the story’s moral without including the sacrifice scenes from the short story and full-length movie.
Disciples Of The Crow Is A Better Stephen King Adaptation Than The Children Of The Corn Sequels
“Children of the Corn” is King’s most-adapted story. The full classic film premiered one year after the Disciples of the Crows. Eight sequels and two remakes followed, never quite reaching the level of success of the first installment. None of them were as serious as the original, and they were less committed to its central message. By contrast, Disciples of the Crow is a more accurate and compelling adaptation. Although it makes cuts to the source material due to its limited time, it maintains the heart of King’s story — something none of the Children of the Corn sequels and reboots manage.
