10 Horror Movies Where The Monster Isn’t The Scariest Part

2. Children Of The Corn

In the 1984 adaptation of Stephen King's Children of the Corn, a couple stumbles into a rural town that's controlled by a cult of children. Just to make matters worse, the cult leader, Isaac Croner, intends to sacrifice the pair to an entity called He Who Walks Behind the Rows.

Logically, Isaac should be nowhere near as intimidating as this ancient deity, since he's soft-spoken and physically unimposing, even compared to his subordinates. Meanwhile, He Who Walks Behind the Rows is godlike, immortal, and unknowable. And yet, Isaac is the one who inspires overwhelming fear.

Isaac knows he can't overpower others with brawn, forcing him to rely on manipulation, turning faith into fanaticism. His calm demeanour, masterful demagoguery, and unwavering certainty in his duty highlight how effortlessly he wields his power.

Of course, the scariest thing about Isaac is the fact that he's nine years old. Instead of watching cartoons or playing with toys like a regular boy, this maniac formulated a death cult and convinced all of the town's children to slay their parents.

He Who Walks Among the Rows may be immensely dangerous, but Isaac is more likely to get under your skin.