Stuff To Blow Your Mind The Monstrefact Redux: He Who Walks Behind the Rows
Oct 22, 2025
Dive into the eerie world of Stephen King's sinister deity from 'Children of the Corn.' Explore its intriguing connections to folklore, from Indigenous maize gods to European field spirits like the Kornwolf. Discover how tradition and ritual intertwine with the mythos of agricultural deities. The discussion also delves into the unsettling symbolism of monoculture and its reflection on industrial agriculture. This podcast spins a thread connecting ancient beliefs to modern horrors, making you rethink the crops around you.
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King’s Sinister Corn Deity
- Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" introduces He Who Walks Behind the Rows as a strange green harvest god tied to violent youth cults.
- Robert Lamb connects this figure to broader Stephen King mythology and depictions of a shadowy, red-eyed presence in cornfields.
Maize’s Sacred Heritage
- Lamb notes maize's sacredness in Indigenous American cultures and major Mesoamerican maize deities.
- He contrasts those traditions with King's fictional harvest god and acknowledges real-world sacrificial aspects.
European Field Spirits Parallel
- European folklore offers better parallels, like Feldgeister and Kornkinder, linking grain fields to malicious spirits.
- Lamb highlights the Kornwolf as a wolf-like field predator archetype preying on children and the weak.
