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The Burning (1981)

R  |   |  Horror, Thriller  |  8 May 1981 (USA)
6.5
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Ratings: 6.5/10 from 9,439 users  
Reviews: 170 user | 146 critic

A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.

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(original story), (original story), 4 more credits »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Leah Ayres ...
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Carrick Glenn ...
Carolyn Houlihan ...
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Lou David ...
Shelley Bruce ...
Sarah Chodoff ...
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Kevi Kendall ...
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Storyline

A janitor at a summer camp is accidently burned severely from a prank. Years later, he is released from an institute, and returns to the camp with a pair of hedge clippers to take revenge on the campers. Written by Humberto Amador

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Today is not Friday the 13th. But if you see this movie alone... you'll never be the same again! See more »

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

8 May 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Cropsy  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Savini would play classical music during the long process of creating plaster castings of the actors faces. See more »

Goofs

When Alfred is pinned to the wall, Cropsy has his hand around Alfred's throat. Later, when Cropsy is waving the flame at Todd, there is a shot with Cropsy's hand still around Alfred's throat. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Paul: Tonight's the night. Cropsy's going to get what he deserves. Remember what he did to you, Snoop?
Snoop: Yeah.
Paul: And when he beat up Jamie really bad for nothing? Billy says Cropsy's been getting away with this shit for years. If we pull this off, it'll be the biggest number Camp Blackfoot has ever seen.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Midnight Movie Review: '80s Summer Camp Slashers (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

DEVIL'S CREEK BREAKDOWN
Written and Performed by Alan Brewer
Produced by Alan Brewer
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Better than FRIDAY THE 13TH
27 September 2000 | by (DVD Drive-In) – See all my reviews

How many times in film history has it occurred that a rip-off is better than its source material? Well, in horror films, it happens a lot and THE BURNING is a fine example. The first film churned out by modern powerhouse Miramax, THE BURNING delivers the goods and that's that.

The storyline: a janitor at a summer camp is the victim of a fiery prank and returns years later to exact revenge on teens at a summer camp across the lake from his old stomping grounds. OK, not so original...in fact, you might say that it reminds you of FRIDAY THE 13TH, right? Duh, by now, you should know that this is an F13 rip-off. But here's the great part: this movie is not only gorier than F13, it is better acted, better paced, and has better characters. Three of them are played by future stars Jason Alexander, Holly Hunter (with no lines! Ha!), and Fisher Stevens! Alexander even has hair, but he plays the typical fat guy jokester. He doesn't get butchered, though.

Tom Savini supposedly turned down F13 PART 2 to do the special effects for this film. It's pretty good that he did this since the effects are part of the appeal of THE BURNING. The highlight of the film: the dispatching of an entire group of kids on a raft using giant shears! Truly amazing!

THE BURNING was severely cut by the MPAA and international censors as well. It has yet to turn up legally uncut in the US (other than a brief uncut video release) and it is aching for a DVD release by Anchor Bay! Until then, try to find a copy at your mom-and-pop store. You will not be disappointed!


19 of 27 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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