‘Children Of The Corn’ Remake Getting Ready To Walk Behind The Rows Again
Children of the Corn, theStephen Kingstory that spawned approximately ten zillion movies, is heading to the screen yet again.Kurt Wimmer, director of the Christian Bale gun-fu flickEquilibrium, is helming aChildren of the Cornremake in Australia, and has actually managed to keep filming even though most productions have been shut down due to coronavirus.THRhas a story about how certain film productions across the globe have found ways to keep shooting, even while the majority of film and TV work has been halted as a result of the coronavirus. And buried in the story is a surprise – there’s a remake ofChildren of the Cornin the works:
The film’s outdoor locations, its local cast and crew, and its status as an independent production have meant it was not subject to studio-based furloughs and shutdowns that have hit other film shoots across the country…Children of the Corn"significantly reduced its cast and crew size and is implementing health and safety protocols in line with government restrictions for workplaces … and is keeping local police informed on their operation."
Stephen King’sChildren of the Cornwas first published in 1977, and then ended up in King’s short story collectionNight Shift. The tale follows a married couple with a rocky relationship. They’re driving across the country to California, and pass through the town of Gatlin, Nebraska, which appears deserted at first. Exploring the town, they discover all sorts of creepy stuff, and end up encountering a group of kids brandishing weapons. Things deteriorate from there, and the story ends on a rather bleak note.
It is by no means a great story, but it has a nice ominous atmosphere, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The same can’t be said for theChildren of the Cornfilm franchise, which has inexplicably spawned ten movies, none of them very good. In fact, most of them are downright terrible. And yet, people keep returning to harvest the story for ideas.
I don’t quite know what to make of this new production. No cast members are mentioned, and Kurt Wimmer isn’t exactly a hot director. He hasn’t directed a film since 2006’s forgettableUltraviolet. Beyond that, he’s written scripts for thePoint Breakremake, theTotal Recallremake, andSalt. Not exactly the best resume. But hey, maybe Wimmer will be the filmmaker who finally cracks thisChildren of the Cornthing, and delivers a good movie! If not, we’ll always haveChildren of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.
