Release Date: 8 May 1981
Run Time: 91 Minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 4 men on fire out of 5
Tom Savini practical effects and a banging synth score make for a damn good time.
Campers at Camp Blackfoot decide to prank cruel caretaker, Cropsy; but it all goes wrong when he's accidentally set on fire (why did he keep a gas tank beside his bed anyway?). Despite this fiery misadventure, Cropsy survives. Now, Cropsy wants revenge.
Skip ahead 5 years and Cropsy has been released from the hospital. He's armed with pruning shears and he's back at Camp Blackfoot. Will the campers endure the wrath of Cropsy? Find out in: The Burning!
A pretty bare-bones slasher; The Burning is nonetheless a highly enjoyable entry to the genre. At times very brutal (the scene on the raft is a stand-out). It even manages to make the tired environment of a summer camp in the woods feel eerie and dangerous. Also, it was nice to see a horror movie summer camp that had actual children in attendance. In all, this is a slasher that is worth a watch.
Bonus: The first on-screen role for Jason Alexander.
Why you should watch:
You're a fan of the slasher genre and want to see a somewhat forgotten entry.
You love a good 80's synth score.
You love the work of Tom Savini,
Why you shouldn't watch:
Some of the teen-sex-comedy style humour can be a bit gross and dated (especially when you find out Harvey Weinstein worked on the film).