“Question not my judgment, Malachai. I am the giver of His word.”

It’s the summer of 1984. The pavement is hot, the corn is high, and the eerie voices of children can be heard singing in a distant barn. Something sinister walks behind the rows. Is it a cult of killer children ripped from the Old Testament? Is a vengeful deity who demands human sacrifice? Is it a roving mound of dirt speeding through the corn or a loud little girl who draws in her sleep? In the latest episode of The Long Watch, The Losers’ Club will pick up their scythes and venture into the fragrant fields to unearth the secrets of Fritz Kiersch’s Children of the Corn.

Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton) are driving across the country when a detour off the main highway takes them straight through a never ending sea of corn. When a dying child darts in front of their car, the attractive couple takes his body to the tiny town of Gatlin, Nebraska. But where did all the adults go? Why is the town overrun with corn and who’s that dreamy redhead who keeps shouting “OUTLANDER?” First published in a 1977 edition of Penthouse then included in the 1978 collection Night Shift, Stephen King’s short story is an unsettling nightmare playing out in the bright summer sun. But with a heartwarming tone and an explosive ending, does Kirsch’s adaptation manage to capture the terror?

In honor of the film’s 40th birthday, Losers Rachel Reeves, Jenn Adams, Dan Pfleegor, and Ana Marie Cox dig into every detail of this curious film that spawned one of the longest film franchises in horror history. They’ll discuss John Franklin’s iconic performance, Jonathan Elias’s eerie score, Dark Tower connections, and that bizarre final jump scare. Is Children of the Corn a metaphor for the Ihe Iranian Revolution? Could dying corn have killed Linda Hamilton’s burgeoning career? How did a Boy Scout troop contribute to the film’s special effects, and how much “gasahol” does one Corn Cult actually need? The Losers will break down all these questions and more as they take a long walk between the rows with Children of the Corn.

Stream the discussion below and stay tuned next week when the Losers return to Mid-World for their first book episode of Season 8 with The Wind Through the Keyhole. For further adventures, join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

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