Children of the Corn: Runaway Blu-ray Review

"Children of the Corn: Runaway" is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The presentation delivers a commendable visual experience, capturing the picturesque countryside settings with a high level of precision. Detail levels are consistently excellent, even under suboptimal lighting conditions, ensuring the various textures and intricacies of the environment are well presented. Some POV sequences exhibit excessive grading, resulting in diminished detail quality during those moments, yet this seems to be an intentional stylistic choice. The overall palette is natural, though outdoor shots often carry a soft, dewy aesthetic that juxtaposes effectively with the film's underlying tension. Despite operating within a constrained budget, the visual quality remains robust, with production values that appear competent and fitting for the narrative.

The Blu-ray transfer boasts an impressive clarity with significant depth of field in numerous scenes, allowing for fluid character movement and dynamic spatial awareness without noticeable distortion or artifacts. Blacks are sufficiently deep and saturated, with minimal crushing and retained surface details such as textures in hair and fabric. Despite a slightly washed-out image overall, there are moments where colors stand out vividly; for instance, the yellow dress of the young girl and the depiction of blood during intense scenes are particularly striking. Flesh tones maintain consistency throughout, offering clear visibility of features like freckles and wrinkles in close-ups. Additionally, the video quality is clean, free from noise and distracting artifacts, ensuring a smooth viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "Children of the Corn: Runaway" utilizes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that, while not overly ambitious, offers a competent and well-crafted soundscape for the film. The surround activity is predominantly environmental, capturing the ambient sounds effectively, such as the crackling of the cornfield set ablaze and the varied acoustics within the repair shop. Dialogue remains clear and well-prioritized throughout, with Aaron's crucial voiceover resonating strongly from the center channel, ensuring it stands out amidst the sound mix.

The mix's dynamics come through with robust and assertive properties, featuring an immersive 5.1 soundstage that is more front-focused but does not neglect surrounding placement when necessary. Sound effects such as jump scare stings, wrench hits, and slamming doors deliver a notable low-frequency extension that can shake up a room, adding an engaging depth to the viewing experience. Despite its stronger focus on the front channels, the mix efficiently utilizes the surround channels to enhance spatial accuracy in action sequences.

Overall, this audio track is both active and loud, ensuring a balanced blend of score, dialogue, and sound effects. The result is a surprisingly dynamic and immersive sound experience for the tenth installment of the "Children of the Corn" series. Dialogue reproduction remains pristine, ensuring clarity and crispness regardless of the scene's intensity or background noise. The audio presentation, while not groundbreaking, competes exceptionally well within the scope of this genre and adds significant value to the viewing experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Children of the Corn: Runaway" offer an intriguing look behind the scenes, though they are limited in number. The digital copy of the film is a valuable addition for those who appreciate flexibility in viewing options. The deleted scene titled "Found a Rabbit" provides additional context and adds depth to the story, although brief at 1:52 in duration. While these extras may be sparse, they are a welcome inclusion for fans of the franchise who are interested in supplementary content and further insights into the film's production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scene - Found a Rabbit: Additional context and depth to the story.

"Children of the Corn: Runaway" presents a fresh chapter in the long-standing horror franchise, diverging from its predecessors by focusing on Ruth (Marci Miller), a former cult member who flees the grotesque influence of He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Ten years post-escape, she settles in a small Oklahoma town with her son Aaron (Jake Ryan Scott), only to find that her old nightmares are far from over. Director John Gulager skillfully chooses a slower-paced narrative to build tension, creating an atmospheric sense of dread through the use of wide-open spaces and unsettling townsfolk. This setting amplifies Ruth’s growing paranoia, adding layers to the horror, despite the sparse and somewhat restrained use of special effects.

The film falters in its attempt to straddle reality and hallucination, alternating between Ruth's paranoia and the suggestion that sinister forces are genuinely pursuing her. This dual narrative doesn’t seamlessly coalesce, sometimes diminishing the impact of the film's sparse kill scenes. However, a standout scene features an intense slow-motion massacre in a diner that showcases impressive gore and visual effects, albeit briefly. Marci Miller’s performance is noteworthy; she imbues Ruth with both vulnerability and resilience, a balancing act that keeps viewers invested in her fate. Clu Gulager’s cameo adds a nostalgic touch for genre fans.

Though "Children of the Corn: Runaway" does not redefine horror, it marks an improvement over recent lackluster entries in the series. It remains a modest yet effective horror feature with enough fresh elements to differentiate it from its more formulaic precursors. Despite its limitations and occasional pacing issues, it offers compelling moments and a reinvigorated take on the "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" mythology, making it a worthwhile addition for devoted followers of the franchise.

"Children of the Corn: Runaway" is a somewhat peculiar entry within the long-standing horror franchise. While it attempts a fresh take, it often oscillates between genuine thrills and an underwhelming execution. Director John Gulager brings a few moments that capture the eerie, unsettling atmosphere one expects from the series but falls short in maintaining a consistently engaging narrative. The plot, centered on a lone survivor of the original cult, feels disjointed at times and may not resonate strongly with those looking for a gripping continuation of the lore.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release offers commendable visual and audio quality. The video presentation is standard for Lionsgate's frequent straight-to-video releases, with satisfactory clarity and detail for home viewing. The audio mix is particularly notable, delivering a full-bodied experience that enhances some of the film's more intense sequences. Unfortunately, the disc lacks any substantial special features or bonus content, which could have enhanced its value to fans and collectors.

This is a kind of odd entry in the Children of the Corn franchise, and while some of it works (at least in fits and starts), my hunch is this latest installment simply won't be scary or unsettling enough to really excite fans. Technical merits are generally strong for those considering a purchase. Recommend renting it first to satisfy curiosity and wait for a price drop before considering adding it to your collection.