A new film adaptation of author Stephen King's Children of the Corn, is set to premiere exclusively in Sarasota on Friday, Oct. 30, at Burns Court Cinema and CMX Cinébistro Siesta Key, which just announced its reopening. The film was written and directed by Kurt Wimmer and produced by ANVL Entertainment—and shot completely during the pandemic.

While the film was set to premiere nationwide, movie theater shutdowns made its showing impossible. However, theaters in Florida have been open since June, and with a local connection—King lives on Casey Key, Wimmer attended USF, and producer Keri Nakamato is from Osprey—Sarasota was the perfect location to open the spooky film, just in time for Halloween. 

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the film began production in March of this year and wrapped in May, with cast and crew remaining isolated, socially-distant and routinely checked for health concerns. The movie was shot in New South Wales, Australia, and overseen by producer Lucas Foster, who worked on last year's award-winning film Ford v. Ferrari. Children of the Corn's production served as an example for successful filming during Covid-19. 

This remake, unlike the 1984 film adaptation, follows a teenager trapped in a plot created by the children of her small Nebraska town to murder their parents and "heal the corn."

After the screenings in Sarasota, Foster has plans to expand screenings to Tampa and eventually, neighboring states. Theaters showing the film will disinfect between screenings and require patrons to wear masks and receive temperature checks.     

Children of the Corn premieres Friday, Oct. 30. To purchase tickets at Burns Court Cinema, click here or call (941) 955-3456. To purchase tickets at CMX Cinébistro Siesta Key, click here or call (941) 361-2456.