Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Sept 4, 2011 17:16:13 GMT -5
Plot:TIM and ALLIE seek shelter in a remote desert compound after becoming lost and stranded. A strange Manson-like character, PREACHER (Drago), reluctantly allows them inside with strict orders to be gone by morning and not wander "where you are not invited." At first, Preacher and his mail-order wife OKSANA (Nedeljakova) deny the faint screams and cries that emanate from one of the crumbling outbuildings. When Allie sneaks outside to investigate, she discovers that she and Tim have stumbled onto a bizarre cult worshiping an entity that may -- or may not -- dwell inside a haunted little boy.
Cast:
Barbara Nedeljakova
Billy Drago
Kelen Coleman
Tim Rock
My Thoughts:Worst entry into the franchise yet.
Review:The last time we heard "Children Of The Corn", followed by "now on dvd"...was way back in 2001. When "Children Of The Corn:Revelations" hit DVD and video. Between then and now, there were all sorts of rumors of a remake, an eighth film, and then another remake. So what did we get? Well, a made-for-tv remake back in 2009. As for the second remake, which was supposed to go to theaters. It never happened. But the eighth film. Finally did. "Genesis". Another straight to dvd sequel. The movie follows a couple Tim -- and Allie who is pregnant.
Their car breaks down on a dusty old road in rural California. They set out to find some help. Again this is a horror film, so they set out to find "a phone". WINK WINK. They find a strange farm of sorts. Where as they approach the door of the compound, there's a cross on the front of it. They knock, only to be greeted by a strange looking man who goes by the name of Preacher (Drago). Interestingly enough, he refuses to let the couple in to even call for a tow service.
And slams the door in their faces. But as the couple go to leave, Allie screams out that Preacher will pay via Karma for not being chilvarous towards a pregnant woman. After that nugget of information is revealed, Preacher is only too happy to let the couple in. Once they're inside, they meet Preachers mail-order Russian bride Oksana (Nedeljakova). A strange and stoic woman who seems to be strangely happy with life on their crappy little farm. The interactions early on between Preacher/Oksana and Tim/Allie are awkward.
But nothing prepares Tim and Allien for what occurs at nightfall. When Allie's curiosity unleashes a wave of dark forces that soon create havoc amongst both couples. While also trapping them inside the house.First off let me just say, I never thought I'd see a mail-order Russian bride in a "Children Of The Corn" film. Of all the things this franchise hasn't introduced yet. That was one thing that came completely out of left field. So, anyways...back to the movie.
Before Tim and Allie come on the scene, the picture starts off in 1979 Gatlin Nebraska. Where a young man returns home from the service. To Gatlin Nebraska. Only to find the children having slaughtered all of the adults. And playing with those creepy miniature corn-idols. All of the adults, including his parents. He tries to face down the threat, but he proves to be no match for the children and their jedi-outlander tricks. So he falls out of a window, and we never really find out what happened to him. Until later in the movie, when the writers open the obligatory bag of twists and reveals.
"Genesis" sounds like it would be the coolest "COTC" sequel yet. But in all actuality, it's the worst one yet. It seems now that the franchise has strayed so far from King's original. They're just gonna keep making new sequels based on stories from Gatlin residents who survived the massacre. Or who happened to come back home to the massacre. Just as it was occuring. Thus, they actually have an unlimited supply of side stories they can pull from here. But this movie, "Genesis"...just fails epically at even being a decent sequel.
For one thing, Drago's character Preacher. Can easily be traced back to the late David Carradine's character Luke, from "Children Of The Corn 5". Both are strange characters with a cult-leader like room presence. Both are tall and lanky, and both are deeply involved in the "bizarre" occurances happening all around. Yet pretend not to be. But in the end, end up convincing no one except Tim and Allie, our not too bright protagonists. Tim and Allie though have their own issues. The couple seem to have some secrets that need ironing out. And of course the great "evil" in the movie seizes upon this to further its plans for both of them. So is this movie worth seeing?
Is it a sequel that can just be added to the collection for appearances? Well...lets go over the "Children Of The Corn" list. What does a "COTC" film need in order to be considered a true sequel in the franchise? Kids with sharp farm tools? CHECK. Although in this film, we mostly see them in flashbacks. The constant mentions of He Who Walks Behind The Rows? CHECK. Although in "Genesis"...we're not exactly sure if he's even behind the shinanigans going on this time around. Remember in part 3, Eli Porter was a demonic entity all to himself.
The "Genesis" writers seem to throw in the He Who Walks mentions just for continuity sakes. Now onto the kills. Gruesome deaths? NO CHECK! Nope, sorry guys. But when you look back throughout the franchises first 7 movies..."Genesis" is the least bloodiest of all the movies! Not one single death in this film stands out, and as a matter of fact. There really aren't any kills in this movie considering our cast consists of about four people in total. How about the massive cornfields?
NO CHECK AGAIN! No massive creepy cornfields are present in "Genesis". Again, the film shows some blood, slashing, and corn stalks in flashback sequences. But in real time? NADA. Lastly, but certainly not least...the obligatory CREEPY KID WITH THE FREAKY POWERS? NO CHECK YET AGAIN! This films kid is seemingly an invalid. He is locked away inside of a shed on the farms property. But doesn't really do anything except put the house on lockdown during one of his tantrums.
So no one, not even Preacher and Oksana can escape. And this is the thanks that they get for feeding and taking care of the little brat? Kids...sometimes a disappointment. As for Tim and Allie, well it's hard to feel sorry for these two. They're about as dumb as dumb can get. So by the time things get so crazy that their departure becomes impossible. You kind of say to yourself..."had you two left 15 minutes after you first entered the house with the weirdo couple...you would've faired much better."
The film tries to play up some mystery elements later on with a "whodunit" sort of plot device. It seems that Tim and Allie demand answers after they become trapped in the house. But Preacher just blames Oksana and the "shed boy" outside. While Oksana blames Preacher for the mystery evil-doings. And Tim and Allie? Well, they still aren't smart enough to try and formulate some sort of plan for escape.
"Sigh". But luckily for them, they get a slightly reassuring speech from Preacher than "shed boy" might release them come dawn because that's when the evil force inside of him "sleeps". Oh goodie...a creepy promise from an even creepier negotiator. This should end well. Which is doesn't...by the way. And that is where "Genesis" puts the final nail in its own coffin. Tim and Allie make an attempt to flee, but after the movie finally offers up an awesome moment of supernatural "booga-booga"?
It quickly takes a meat-cleaver to that by serving up one of the most ridiculous, shit, retarded, and cinematically-assinine endings I have EVER seen! Not just within the confines of this franchise, but within the genre of horror in general. The ending is just so stupid. It makes you wanna pop the dvd from your player, and wing it out the window to see if you can get it to land on the corner across the street from your house. And so is the story of "Children Of The Corn:Genesis". A decade in the making. If there is more to come after this...Corn God...help, us all!
Positives:The movie honestly starts out pretty well. Seems to offer up heavy potential for a good sequel. A decade after part 7 was released. The ending shows some nice flare for supernatural evil.
Negatives:After the first 20 minutes. The films descent into epic failure is a quick and painful one. The characters are morons, Tim and Allie especially. And what ever happened to the menacing villains of these films? Preacher was just a weirdo and Oksana was just really hot and strange. Nothing scary to see here. Move along. And the final 5 minutes? GARBAGE!!
Overall:One star out of four.