A twelve year-old preacher named Isaac (John Franklin) in the town of Gaitlin, Nebraska, commands the children of the town to kill everyone over the age of 18. When one child tries to escape 3 years later, his throat is cut by Isaac's disciple, Malachai (Courtney Gains). As the dying child staggers into the main highway, he is hit by Dr. Burt Stanton (Peter Horton) who is traveling with his girlfriend, Vicky Baxter (Linda Hamilton), on their way to Seattle. They put the corpse of the child in their trunk and attempt to head toward Gaitlin. They encounter Chester Diehl (R.G. Armstrong), the proprietor of a roadside gas station, who attempts to detour them around the town. Upon arriving in Gatlin, Vicky is captured by the children while Stanton is exploring the town, and it is their plan to sacrifice her to feed the cornfields.