Elena Kampouris: ‘Kids of the Corn’ a cautionary story wrapped in a horror film

NEW YORK, March 21 (UPI) — Elena Kampouris and Kate Moyer say their characters within the horror film, Kids of the Corn, acknowledge that violence and corruption exist of their small Nebraska city, however disagree about tips on how to resolve the issues.

Written and directed by Kurt Wimmer, the prequel to Stephen King’s brief story and its 1984 movie adaptation is ready for launch on demand and digital platforms Tuesday.

Moyer performs Eden, a 12-year-old woman who turns into possessed in a dying cornfield by a demon she calls He Who Walks.

Newly empowered, Eden leads the city’s youngsters to kill all of the adults due to the environmental sins they’ve dedicated towards the Earth.

Kampouris performs Boleyn, or Bo, a highschool pupil keenly keen on science, who campaigns for cleaner farming practices, however tries to cease the carnage when Eden begins wreaking havoc.

“It is like this manifestation between two leaders — one for purpose and order and one for chaos and dysfunction,” Kampouris advised UPI in a current Zoom interview.

“That is actually compelling, particularly when you might have these two robust feminine characters,” she added. “They’re each going by this energy wrestle.

“Bo means effectively. She’s making an attempt to stop unhealthy issues from taking place, type of causes extra unhealthy issues to occur, however she has a very good coronary heart and she or he is feisty and decided to avoid wasting the city earlier than leaving it.”

Eden has a very totally different perspective than her former good friend.

“She’s gone by rather a lot as a younger child, and that is undoubtedly affected the way in which she’s grown up and had this view on the world,” Moyer mentioned.

“She has issues trusting individuals, particularly adults due to how they’ve impacted her life negatively, so I really feel like that basically drives her character by the story and pushes her to tackle this management function when nothing is altering for her technology.”

Wimmer thinks the story is related, particularly to younger grownup viewers, in 2023.

“I look around the globe at present and see numerous youngsters who’re changing into politically lively and keen on what goes, significantly ecologically, which this movie facilities on — the destruction of the Earth,” he mentioned.

“Corn clearly is symbolic of the Earth. The youngsters are symbolic of the long run,” Wimmer added. “I see that all over the place with youngsters now.”

Moyer, who is not a horror fan, appreciated the various layers of the disturbing story she helped to inform.

“I feel [the dimension] makes it have a much bigger affect. Positive, it is about youngsters who homicide, however it’s additionally about why they’re doing it,” she mentioned. “It makes it extra scary as a result of it’s extra relatable.”

Kampouris agreed the movie packs the emotional wallop it does as a result of it’s thrilling leisure that additionally carries and essential message.

“There may be this unavoidable thread between man and nature,” she mentioned. “If we destroy our world, we’ll rot, as effectively. You’ll be able to attempt to ignore that, however it can meet up with you. That is additionally a cautionary story similtaneously being a enjoyable horror film.”

Wimmer joked, “Be good stewards of the Earth or your youngsters will kill you.”

Along with this prequel, the franchise contains eight sequels to the unique film, in addition to a remake.

“There may be simply one thing inherently creepy about that title. I am positive that has contributed to its longevity,” Wimmer mentioned.

Generational battle, younger versus previous, can also be a timeless theme nonetheless appreciated practically 4 many years after the primary Kids of the Corn terrified moviegoers.

“It is about individuals of majority versus individuals of minority — individuals who have energy to direct their destinies, which is the adults, and people who find themselves powerless,” the filmmaker mentioned.

Kids of the Corn is actually a narrative about revolution wherein the decrease courses stand up towards the ruling courses, he added.

“However not one of the motion pictures, as far as I do know, addressed that. It is all the time been performed off display,” Wimmer mentioned.

“To me, that is all the time been probably the most attention-grabbing a part of the story — these youngsters assuming company and doing one thing in regards to the world that’s being imposed on them, the world that’s being destroyed and taking it open themselves to make it higher by eliminating the illness, which is, after all, the adults.”