Les disciples du corbeau

Why is it so hard to be loyal to the original work? If you're gonna make a weak carbon copy, at least honor the original, don't try to f--k it up in your way. The actings and ambiance are poor.

I rented this short film as a part of `Stephen King's Night Shift Collection.' Previously, I thought that there was only one volume in this `collection,' that being the one that contained student films of `The Boogeyman' and `The Woman in the Room,' neither of which I enjoyed. `Disciples of the Crow' is paired up with a short film made in 1987 called `The Night Waiter,' which doesn't seem to be a King story at all. But never mind that, as that is a review for another day. I wasn't sure what to expect with this film. Just by the title, I knew that the story was based on `Children of the Corn.' This movie had the unfortunate chance of being made one year before the actual `Children of the Corn' film (which I liked, but I know I am in the minority). It would have been lost in oblivion had it not 1) been adapted from a Stephen King story and 2) been found by Karl James Associates to cash in on the late-80's Stephen King craze.

Pushing aside thoughts of the film series and letting the film stand on its own, I must say they almost pulled it off. I won't bore you with details of the original story's plot, but I will say that I wouldn't get the short film so much had I not either read the story or watched the feature film. Perhaps for the sake of time, key elements of explanation are gone and no attempt is made to characterize any of the children (I know the King story didn't do this either, but since this short acts like it is about to do this with one character and then balks, it is worth mentioning). The good points are that John Woodward slowly and effectively builds suspense to the point of creating nervousness for the viewers and that the sunny, outdoor setting adds to the rural creepiness---it's pretty obvious why this King story was chosen by both these students and Hollywood. Sadly, the film is too short, ending immediately after the full shock is released. It was a good try, but it just barely misses. Zantara's score: 5 out of 10.

I have not read Stephen King's story, and the only Children of the Crow movie I can swear to having seen is the sixth one. This short stands well on its own, without requiring knowledge of the story, though that may add something.

It's available on a German DVD as Night of the Crow, and on an out-of-print videotape titled Stephen King's Nightshift Collection. That video also has the short The Night Waiter (1987), and a "coming soon" teaser called "Highrise," supposedly from something called "Slightly Astounding Stories." I don't know that anything by that name was ever released, and it's unfortunate it lacks credits, as it is actually well done and has a funny, surreal ending. Confusingly, there is another videotape titled Stephen King's Nightshift Collection that has different shorts on it (though the box does indicate which shorts) It opens in Jonah, Oklahoma in 1971. A child with a mole on his chin has an unusual shrine in a cornfield, where is is watched by crows. He and some other children do some sort of ritual, dropping things into a boiling pot. When the kid is in church with his mother and her boyfriend, he looks at a stained glass window depicting Jesus, whose face turns into a skull. That night the children kill their parents with a variety of implements, though this happens offscreen.

In 1983, a couple driving near Jonah, OK hit a young man who runs into the road. They find some strange things on the body, and try to find someone to whom they can report the accident. This is only the beginning of their problems. The couple's arrival in Jonah is somewhat reminiscent of ¿Quién puede matar a un niño? (1976) AKA Who Could Kill a Child?, although this is perhaps inevitable given the shared subject matter.

It's quite well directed and acted. The art direction and locations are well done too. Surprisingly, it appears director John Woodward only did two movies after this one.

This a very good movie It has a great story line. It is very scary. It has great acting. The 1984 remake The Children of the corn is better. This is one the scariest movies from 1983. It is scarier then The silence of the lambs could ever be.

One year before the famous adaptation of King's "Children of the Corn" from 1984, student John Woodward made this twenty-minute film. Not only was he the first to adapt the "Children of the Corn", but practically with no budget, and with amateurs and actors in their first roles, he made a horror that in some respects is even better than the franchise that followed. Although it's too short, and just when it reaches its peak it ends, Woodward manages to achieve a very effective eerie atmosphere, which is particularly difficult in a movie that takes place during the daylight, and the acting is surprisingly realistic and believable. If he only had a little more money and time this film could occupy the place where today is the movie from 1984.

7/10