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| “ | A time of tribulation has come. A test is at hand... the final test. | „ |
| ~ Isaac ordering his followers to kill "outlanders". |
Isaac Chroner (Renfrew in Stephen King's novella) is the secondary antagonist of the Children of the Corn franchise. He is the leader of the Children of the Corn, a cult made up of children and adolescents who worship a demonic entity called He Who Walks Behind the Rows. His second-in-command is the envious Malachi (born Craig) Boardman.
He was portrayed by John Franklin in the 1984 film adaptation, and by Preston Bailey in the 2009 remake.
Biography[]
Children of the Corn (1984)[]
Not much is known about Isaac (originally William)'s early years. According to Job's opening narration, Isaac was a natural born preacher whom everybody looked up to...with the exception of Job and his sister Sarah, who considered Isaac more strange than interesting.
Isaac also organized the massacre of Gatlin's citizens, as he spread his religious influence among the town's children. Isaac converts Gatlin to a "holy" place which nobody can enter or leave, note even the children who still dwell there. He asserts his control over the children, with Malachi as his leading enforcer. Isaac threatens that to defy him is to sin against He Who Walks Behind the Rows, the cult's hellish patron deity.
A year after the slaughter of Gatlin's adults, HWWBTR informs Isaac that two people (Burt and Vicky) will be passing through the town. Isaac prepares his "flock" to sacrifice the couple.
Vicky and Burt enter the town, finding it (seemingly) empty and abandoned. When Burt looks for help, Vicky is captured by Malachi, who brings her to Isaac. Isaac finds the sacrifice wanting, however, and tells Malachi that "He is displeased". This leads to Malachi betraying Isaac, and putting him up for sacrifice in Vicky's place.
Later that night, Isaac senses the presence of He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Despite his pleas, Isaac is "taken". However, unbeknownst to Malachi, Isaac is sent back by Him. Isaac kills Malachi and then suddenly vanishes.
Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return[]
It is revealed that Isaac did not die from the events from the first film, but instead was put into a coma for over nineteen years. Once he wakes up, he is determined to bring back the forgotten religion and bring back He Who Walks Behind the Rows. It is also revealed that Isaac has a son named Matt, and hopes that his son can pass on the legacy to him as the next prophet.
Isaac is confronted by Gabriel, who was the firstborn of the children, since his birthright was denied due to Isaac having favor for his son instead of him. Gabriel uses his power against Isaac and reveals himself to be He Who Walks Behind the Rows, where he then impales Isaac to the floor, and kills him.
Children of the Corn (2009)[]
In the 2009 remake, Isaac is nine years old and the cult leader of the children. In the film, Isaac, in the corn, notices two people heading toward Gatlin along with his eighteen year old second-in-command, Malachi. Isaac goes back to Gatlin to warn the children of the incoming of the outlanders, saying that they are like the "blue man" who was a police officer who was sacrificed for trying to stop the children in the town massacre.
When Isaac notices that Vicky is later left by herself in Burt's car while Burt is investigating, he has the children attack Vicky and Malachi later kills her in the attack. When Burt rushes outside to check his dead wife, he is confronted by the children. Isaac then taunts Burt by throwing a small knife into his arm. However, when Burt escapes, Isaac confronts Malachi and it is revealed that Malachi angered the god-like entity He Who Walks Behind the Rows by killing Joseph (a child who tried escaping) in the corn. Isaac then makes Malachi pray to show his loyalty to the the religion.
At the end of the film, Burt is killed by He Who Walks Behind the Rows. However, Isaac reveals to the children that due to their inability to kill Burt, the age of sacrifice has been lowered from nineteen to eighteen (previously was lowered from twenty to nineteen due to their failure in killing of the town police officer, who they call "the blue man"). Which leads to Malachi and the others who are eighteen to walk into the cornfields, where they offer themselves to Him.
Personality[]
In most portrayals, Isaac views himself as being above his fellow children, due to enforcing the word of He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Isaac usually has no qualms about confronting any who oppose him...even if said opposition is taller and more opposing than Isaac himself. Isaac's greatest talent is getting and keeping the attention of his congregation. He's also given to threatening them with brutal punishments, called-for and otherwise.
Isaac doesn't scare easily; he's intimidated only by He Who Walks Behind the Rows, the mere sight of whom (according to Isaac) will lead to certain death. When Malachi (unwisely) attempts to crucify Isaac in the cornfield, Isaac fearfully points out that he has been a loyal minion...to no apparent effect.
Quotes[]
| “ | You have the gift of sight. This is a blessing, my child. | „ |
| ~ Isaac when meeting Sarah. |
| “ | The Lord did come to me, and he was shape... It was He Who Walks Behind the Rows! | „ |
| ~ Isaac preaching to the Children in the cornfield. |
| “ | Joseph has taken his things and fled this happy place. So take you his life, and spill his blood! | „ |
| ~ Isaac informing the Children of Joseph's potential betrayal in his attempted escape. |
| “ | Don't just stand there! Seize him! Punish him! Cut him down, I command you! I am the word and giver of His laws! Disobedience to me is disobedience to Him! Do it now, or your punishment shall be a thousand times, a thousand deaths, each more horrible than the last! | „ |
| ~ Isaac commanding the children to apprehend Malachai, although it fails. |
| “ | He wants you too... Malachai... | „ |
| ~ Isaac after he was resurrected by He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and right before he kills Malachai. |
| “ | I don't have a soul... | „ |
| ~ Isaac in Children of the Corn 666: Return of Isaac. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- When Isaac said "God Came To Me", that remind some people the speech of Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion of his fellow African-American slaves against their Caucasian masters and slave drivers in 1831.
- In the 1984 adaption, despite Isaac being a teen preacher, the actor John Franklin was twenty-five years old upon taking the role. Franklin had growth hormone deficiency disorder, which made him appear a lot younger than his actual age.
