Children of the Corn Blu-ray Review

Anchor Bay has delivered a commendable transfer of "Children of the Corn" on Blu-ray, preserving the film's age and lo-fi charm while enhancing its visual fidelity. The 1080p transfer, set in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, exhibits great clarity and resolution. Details such as corn stalks and deteriorated buildings in Gatlin reveal impressive textures, and colors like the reds, greens, and blues are rendered with depth and stability. The film does retain a moderate to heavy grain which contributes to its filmic quality, and fortunately, digital processing is kept minimal, maintaining a natural appearance.

Blacks are inky and deep, though they can occasionally crush details, especially in darker scenes. Contrast and shadow delineation are generally excellent but can fluctuate, leading to inconsistency in some spots where scenes appear softer or exhibit signs of wear like speckles, dirt, and scratches. Despite these occasional dips in quality, the source print is surprisingly clean for a film of this vintage. Given these factors, fans of the film will find this Blu-ray transfer a significant enhancement over previous standard definition releases.

The overall viewing experience is bolstered by vibrant color rendering and solid visual performance despite some minor drawbacks. The detail in facial features is consistently sharp without appearing waxy. While it may not reach the visual heights of modern blockbusters, this Blu-ray edition of "Children of the Corn" stands as one of the most impressive back-catalog transfers available, offering a greatly improved picture quality that balances nostalgic authenticity with appreciable upgrades for contemporary viewing.

The audio presentation of "Children of the Corn" on Blu-ray from Anchor Bay provides a notable upgrade via a new lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. This track, while limited by its original elements, is front-heavy with a wide soundstage and clear, albeit occasionally harsh, dialogue. Soundstage separation is effective in the front channels, allowing incidental effects from the left and right to enrich the auditory experience. Dynamics show fair solidity and impact given the age of the recording, though there is minimal activity in the rear channels until the climactic scenes, where the sound field opens up marginally, adding some degree of immersion.

Jonathan Elias' evocative score benefits from the high-resolution codec, with enveloping effects primarily functioning in the score for ambient enhancement. However, directional effects are sparse, and bass presence is minimal, contributing to an overall tinny sound at times. While elements such as wind rustling through cornfields and dog barks come across as detached and lacking depth, the final sequences introduce noticeable yet modest rear-channel activity, including slight bass rumble, that adds atmosphere and a touch of immersion.

Ultimately, while the sound design doesn't fully leverage modern high-resolution capabilities, it avoids artificial enhancements to maintain a degree of authenticity suited to the film's original audio. The presentation of dialogue and music remains adequate and stable, even if dynamic ranges are somewhat clipped at higher frequencies. Taken as a whole, the new Dolby TrueHD soundtrack represents a commendable effort by Anchor Bay, providing an audible improvement over previous editions despite its inherent limitations.

The Blu-ray edition of "Children of the Corn" from Anchor Bay boasts a comprehensive set of bonus features that will delight fans and collectors alike. The extra materials not only encompass previously available content but also introduce some high-definition exclusives, providing a well-rounded behind-the-scenes look at the film. The package kicks off with a feature-length audio commentary by Director Fritz Kiersch, Producer Terrence Kirby, and Actors John Franklin and Courtney Gaines. This commentary, while sometimes slow, offers humorous anecdotes, thematic insights, and production challenges. Another highlight is the 36-minute documentary, "Harvesting Horror: Children of the Corn", offering an in-depth exploration of the film’s impact on the horror genre. Additional highlights include HD featurettes such as "Welcome to Gatlin," "It Was the Eighties," and "Stephen King on a Shoestring," offering varied perspectives on the film’s production and legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful yet slightly dull.
• Fast Film Facts: Pop-up trivia track with behind-the-scenes info.
• Welcome to Gatlin: Retrospective on production design and musical score.
• It Was the Eighties!: Linda Hamilton’s insider stories and views.
• Stephen King on a Shoestring: Adapting King's story on a budget.
• Harvesting Horror: Children of the Corn: In-depth documentary.
• Still Galleries: Compilation of posters, production stills, storyboards, and prophetic drawings.
• Trailers: Original theatrical trailer.

"Children of the Corn," directed by Fritz Kiersch and based on Stephen King’s short story, has secured a notable cult following despite its mixed critical reception. The plot centers on Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton), a couple traveling to Seattle who find themselves in the eerie and isolated town of Gatlin, Nebraska. They discover that the town's children, led by the fanatical Isaac (John Franklin) and the ruthless Malachai (Courtney Gains), have murdered all adults in service to a mysterious cornfield deity known as He Who Walks Behind the Rows. As Burt and Vicky struggle to escape, the film explores dark themes of religious fanaticism and monomania.

Although the adaptation retains some of the story’s inherent creepiness, it diverges significantly from King's original narrative, losing much of its subtext and suspense. The film starts slowly, which benefits its eerie atmosphere, but swiftly dispels mystery through an expository voiceover from Job (Robby Kiger). The narrative tension escalates in the final act, yet remains hindered by outdated special effects and some stilted dialogue between Isaac and Malachai.

Despite these flaws, "Children of the Corn" compensates with unsettling performances and a decently crafted visual style. Franklin and Gains deliver eerie portrayals of their characters, while Hamilton and Horton bring a degree of plausibility to their plight. The atmospheric score by Jonathan Elias enhances the unsettling mood. Overall, while not a paragon of horror cinema, "Children of the Corn" remains a chillingly simple narrative with an enduring appeal, evoking fear through the singular and brutal devotion of its youthful antagonists to their dark god.

The Blu-ray release of "Children of the Corn" is an intriguing update of a classic Stephen King adaptation. Despite its shortcomings as a genre film, it holds a special place in the annals of horror, mainly due to its cult following. The narrative, while compelling in its premise, often falls into the trappings of a typical chase movie, especially in the latter acts. Despite this, it manages to uphold a decent pace and delivers a suitable, if uninspired, conclusion. The 1080p image quality on this Blu-ray edition is commendable given the film's age and budget constraints, showcasing a sharpness and clarity that was absent in previous versions.

The audio presentation is similarly robust, marked by a clear and bland yet effective lossless soundtrack. While it may not offer the immersive auditory experiences of modern high-budget films, it represents a significant improvement over earlier releases. The disc comes packed with an extensive array of supplementary materials. These extras are a highlight for fans, offering exclusive content not found in prior editions. However, the inherent quality of the source film limits the extent to which these technical improvements can enhance the overall viewing experience.

However, if you are a fan of the film then upgrading is a necessity. For such an old, low-budget film, the picture quality here is outstanding and although the sound is limited by the source, this is still an upgrade over previous versions. Add to this an extensive extras package containing many exclusives and you have an excellent disc of a mediocre movie.