In the eerie, fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska, the tale unfolds, narrated by Job, who reveals the dark history of how this seemingly peaceful place became a refuge for a group of young cultists. The town's economic lifeblood revolves around agriculture, with vast cornfields surrounding it. One fateful year, the corn crop fails, prompting the inhabitants of Gatlin to turn to fervent prayer, hoping to ensure a bountiful harvest. It is during this desperate time that a mysterious boy preacher, Isaac Chroner, emerges. He leads the town's children into a cornfield, sharing ominous prophecies of a malevolent deity known as "He Who Walks Behind The Rows."
With the aid of his lieutenant, Malachai (Courtney Gains), Isaac incites a violent uprising, resulting in the brutal slaying of all the adults in the community. Over the years that follow, the remaining children capture any adults who venture into their territory, offering them as sacrifices to their dark god.
Fast forward three years, and we meet Burt (Peter Horton) and his girlfriend Vicky (Linda Hamilton), who are traveling through Nebraska on their way to Burt's new job as a physician in Seattle. As they navigate the highways, their lives take a grim turn when they accidentally hit one of the Gatlin children while driving. In a panic, they conceal the boy's body in their trunk, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.
Their journey takes them to an old mechanic, who offers little help as he is under duress from the cult, ultimately leading to his demise. After hours of searching for a phone, Burt and Vicky find themselves trapped in Gatlin, where an alarming struggle ensues against He Who Walks Behind The Rows and the relentless children of the town. They manage to rescue Job and his sister Sarah, both of whom seek to escape the cult's grasp.
However, things take a dire turn as Vicky is captured by Malachai, who intends to use her as a sacrificial offering. Tensions rise as Malachai grows weary of Isaac's leadership and commands his sacrifice instead. As night descends upon the haunted cornfields, Burt bravely ventures into the darkness to rescue Vicky, just as a gruesome ritual begins. In a climactic battle, Burt confronts Malachai, stirring the children to reconsider their blind devotion to the false god that has ensnared their minds and souls.
In a shocking twist, Isaac's reanimated corpse, now under the influence of He Who Walks Behind The Rows, exacts revenge on Malachai, further entangling the cult's fate. As ominous storms gather above, Burt and Vicky lead the frightened children to safety within a barn, hoping to protect them from the wrath of their tyrannical deity. With chaos raging around them, Job reveals a crucial Bible verse, urging Burt and Vicky to destroy the cornfield to quell the chaos.
In a desperate act, Burt ignites the cornfield using a Molotov cocktail, seemingly vanquishing the sinister demon. As the flames consume the cursed crops, Burt, Vicky, Job, and Sarah manage to escape Gatlin, leaving the tormented town behind. However, as they prepare to leave, a member of the cult ambushes Burt from the back seat. Vicky swiftly intervenes, allowing the four to forge ahead into an uncertain future, where dangers may still lie in wait.
