Children of the Corn (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set in Gatlin, Nebraska, a small isolated town that has become a nightmarish community dominated by a cult of children. The story uses the vast, desolate highways of Nebraska and the eerie cornfields surrounding Gatlin as its primary backdrop, creating an atmosphere of isolation and dread.

• gatlin
• nebraska
• setting
• cornfields
• location

Gatlin has transformed from a once-vibrant community into a terrifying cult stronghold. The town is now ruled by children who worship a dark entity called 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows,' and the adult population has been eliminated through horrifying rituals. The eerie cornfields serve as the setting for their dark ceremonies.

• gatlin
• town
• cult
• cornfields
• children town

The story unfolds in a contemporary setting, though it alludes to darker, timeless themes of fear and cultish beliefs. The events reflect how isolation and desperation can lead communities to embrace sinister ideologies, regardless of the specific era.

• time period
• contemporary
• era
• modern setting

The film explores three major themes: violence, showing how innocence can be corrupted into horror; cultism, demonstrating how dark beliefs can lead communities astray; and despair, depicting the helplessness of characters facing insurmountable odds. These themes create a bleak atmosphere without any humor or romance to offset the darkness.

• themes
• cultism
• violence
• despair
• innocence corrupted

Children of the Corn explores cultism through the Gatlin community, which reveres a sinister entity and imposes terrifying sacrifices on its members. The theme raises questions about blind faith and the consequences of turning to darkness in desperate times, showing how charismatic authority can draw vulnerable individuals into corrupted ideologies.

• cult
• blind faith
• sacrifice
• Isaac
• cult leader

Isaac is the chilling leader of the Gatlin cult, a young character who manipulates others to adhere to the dark practices of their sinister faith. He represents the allure and danger of charismatic authority, drawing in vulnerable individuals and instilling fear among both the townsfolk and the protagonists.

• Isaac
• cult leader
• charismatic authority
• villain

Burt is one of the main protagonists, a troubled husband whose romantic getaway with his wife Vicky spirals into chaos and terror. After a tragic accident, he is thrust into the nightmarish situation in Gatlin where his courage is tested confronting the horrific elements of the cult.

• Burt
• Mike Duncan
• protagonist
• husband

Vicky is Burt's wife, a character who embodies vulnerability amid emerging darkness. Her initial tensions with Burt are exacerbated as she becomes ensnared by the cult's leader Isaac, experiencing a duality of fear and intrigue. Her fate becomes intertwined with the horrific rituals of Gatlin.

• Vicky
• Elena Kampouris
• wife
• protagonist

He Who Walks Behind the Rows is the ancient malevolent entity worshipped by the Gatlin cult. The children believe this dark entity demands the elimination of all adults and outsiders to ensure a plentiful corn harvest. This sinister force influences the children and drives the horrific rituals central to the story.

• He Who Walks Behind the Rows
• entity
• supernatural
• corn god
• cult entity

The cornfields serve as both the setting and symbolic heart of the movie's horror. They are where the cult performs their terrifying rituals, and the entity they worship is tied to ensuring a bountiful harvest. The swaying corn creates an eerie atmosphere that amplifies the sense of isolation and impending doom.

• cornfields
• corn
• harvest
• rituals
• symbolism