“King Corn” Movie Review

When two college friends, Ian and Curt, decide to each have their hair tested, the results are shocking. They both discover that their main carbon isotope (source of carbon in their body) is corn, a test result shared by most Americans. Hilarity ensues as they decide to find out why.

By OLM MemberFollow these recent college grads to Iowa as they go back to their “roots” (literally and figuratively). Both of their families grew up in a small town in Iowa which is the largest corn producing state. Their burning question, “How did we (and most Americans) get so much corn in our bodies?” They answer this by following corn’s history in America.  It’s not a part of most American’s daily diet, or is it?  To solve this mystery, our two protagonists decide to rent out an acre of land from a local Iowan farmer in order to plant and harvest an acre’s worth of corn.

Along the way, discoveries are made, all in a fun and lighthearted way.

• Find out where our native corn came from, and how it started as seven varieties.
• Find out why most corn is down to only one variety, today. Find out the health consequences of this intentional breeding strategy.
• Find out how Ian and Curt “lost” money, but also “made” money due to government subsidies (aka taxpayers money). This system allows every Iowan corn farmer to produce a low quality product for a loss and yet still remain “profitable”.
• Find out why ZERO of the farmers eat any of the corn they grow.
• Find out how more than half of the corn grown goes to animals as feed and is causing catastrophic health issues for both animals and people.

Covering such relevant topics such as food quality versus food quantity, government programs that “help” the economy but endanger the food supply, and the negative health effects of USA corn, this movie takes us on a journey full of eye-opening revelations as we go behind the scenes with Ian and Curt. Educational without being preachy, this insightful yet fun movie should be seen by all. FOLLOW the CORN!!