Children of the Corn (Limited Edition): Blu-Ray Review

For those of you who haven’t been keeping track, the “Children of the Corn” franchise as spawned eight sequels (one of them yet to be released) and a 2009 made-to-TV remake. None of them are actually any good, but fans of the original 1984 flick will absolutely love the new Limited Edition 2K restoration Blu-ray releasing this week from Arrow Video.

“Children of the Corn” may be one of the most well-known of Stephen King film adaptations but it’s not one of the best.  Regardless, John Franklin and Courtney Gains shine as Isaac and Malachai.  The casting of these two actors is what worked best for me.  “Children of the Corn” is also the film that introduced me to Linda Hamilton, released just a few months before “The Terminator”.

Although I am not a big fan of the film, I will say that this release is a must own for those who are fans.  The 2K transfer is fantastic and there are tons of bonus features, plus the fully illustrated collector’s booklet

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio options
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with horror journalist Justin Beahm and Children of the Corn historian John Sullivan
• Audio commentary with director Fritz Kiersch, producer Terrence Kirby and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains
• Harvesting Horror: The Making of Children of the Corn retrospective piece featuring interviews with director Fritz Kiersch and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains
• …And a Child Shall Lead Them a brand new interview with actors Julie Maddalena and John Philbin
• It Was the Eighties! an interview with actress Linda Hamilton
• Field of Nightmares a brand new interview with writer George Goldsmith
• Return to Gatlin brand new featurette revisiting the film’s original Iowa shooting locations
• Stephen King on a Shoestring an interview with producer Donald Borchers
• Welcome to Gatlin: The Sights and Sounds of Children of the Corn an interview with production designer Craig Stearns and composer Jonathan Elias
• Cut from the Cornfield an interview with actor Rich Kleinberg on the infamous lost Blue Man Scene
• Disciples of the Crow 1983 short film adaptation of Stephen King s story
• Storyboard gallery
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Fully illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Sullivan and Lee Gambin

By: Marc Ferman