History Film / ChildrenOfTheCorn1984

* KnifeNut: Malachai and plenty of other children are armed with knives.

* SouthernGothic: A rare West Coast example with an Amish feel; however, the decay, staring unnatural inhabitants, and eerie isolation are still present.

* PragmaticVillainy: Diehl the gas-station owner is kept alive in exchange for his fuel deliveries, and so he can help keep the towns secret by dissuading people from entering via the only road......until Malachai decides [[StupidEvil there are no exceptions.]]

* CreepyChild: The eponymous children.

* AdaptationalHeroism: The film versions of Burt and Vicky (who are driving cross-country to Burt's new job) are a lot more sympathetic than their short story counterparts (who are driving to get marriage counseling and spend most of the story bickering).

* SinisterScythe: Some of the children are armed with sickles and scythes.

* OffscreenTeleportation: Malachai seems to be able to head back to Gatlin just after killing Joseph, Surprise Job and his sister playing in their home, report to Isaac, then reach Diehl's place, all this before Burt and Vicky ''driving''.

* PragmaticVillainy: Diehl the gas-station owner is kept alive in order to dissuade others from coming into town via the only road......until Malachai decides [[StupidEvil there are no exceptions.]]

* InfantImmortality: Averted. Joseph, who tries to escape Gatlin, is punished with death.

* Catch-22Dilemma: You can't use Diehl's restroom if you don't buy Diehl's gas. Diehl has no gas to sell.

* PragmaticVillainy: Keeping the gas station owner is kept alive in order to dissuade others from coming into town via the only road......until Malachai decides [[StupidEvil their are no exceptions.]]

While driving through Nebraska, Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton) find themselves in Gatlin, a town in which the entire adult population has been killed by its children, who worship an entity known as He Who Walks Behind The Rows.

* CutPhoneLines: Found out at 41:53

* ArcadeSounds: Malachi plays a 1981 solid state ''Medusa'' pinball, but it has electro-mechanical sounds dubbed over it.

->'''Vicky:''' What do you want?
->'''Malachai:''' We want to give you peace.

* AdaptationalHeroism: Not necessarily a heroic example, but the film versions of Burt and Vicky (who are driving cross-country to Burt's new job) are a lot more sympathetic than their short story counterparts (who are driving to get marriage counseling and spend most of the story bickering).

* CulturePolice: Music and games are outlawed among the children.

* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: The massacre of adults in Gatlin began when some of the customers at Hansen's diner started dying from their poisoned coffee.

* DangerTakesABackseat: One of the children provide one last scare in the film by attacking Burt from the back of his car.

* EvilisHammy: Isaac, of course.

* TheStarscream: Malachai decides that Isaac doesn't follow He Who Walks Behind The Rows properly (read: doesn't kill everything outright [[BloodKnight like he does]]), and takes over.

* AdaptationNameChange: In the original short story Burt looks in the ledger that lists the names of the children in First Name Last Name (Alternate First Name). No real proof is made on if the Alternate name is their birth name before change or not, but it is the implication. As Eve and Adam don't have alternate names listed. Thus the main two characters real full names are listed as Isaac Renfrew (William) and Malachi Boardman (Craig) respectively. This movie seems to lead us that they were always Issac and Malachi.

* AdaptationNameChange: In the original short story Burt looks in the ledger that lists the names of the children in First Name Last Name (Alternate First Name). No real proof is made on if the Alternate name is their birth name before change or not, but it is the implication. As Eve and Adam don't have alternate names listed. Thus the main two characters real full names are listed as Isaac Renfrew (William) and Malachi Boardman (Craig) respectively.
* ArcadeSounds: Malachai plays a 1981 solid state ''Medusa'' pinball, but it has electro-mechanical sounds dubbed over it.