The Burning (1981)

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.

Director:

Tony Maylam

Writers:

Harvey Weinstein (original story), Tony Maylam (original story),

Stars:

Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Brian Backer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Matthews	...	Todd
Leah Ayres	...	Michelle
Brian Backer	...	Alfred
Larry Joshua	...	Glazer
Jason Alexander	...	Dave
Ned Eisenberg	...	Eddy
Carrick Glenn	...	Sally
Carolyn Houlihan	...	Karen
Fisher Stevens	...	Woodstock
Lou David	...	Cropsy
Shelley Bruce	...	Tiger
Sarah Chodoff	...	Barbara
Bonnie Deroski	...	Marnie
Holly Hunter	...	Sophie
Kevi Kendall	...	Diane

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.

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Plot Keywords:

summer camp | prank | cropsy | hospital | revenge | 

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Taglines:

It will take you further than fear.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cropsy

Filming Locations:

Buffalo, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, The Cropsy Venture

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Savini turned down Friday the 13th Part 2 to work on this.

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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.

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Quotes

Todd: There used to be a camp not far from here, just across the lake. It was called Camp Blackfoot. No one goes there anymore. Everything burnt down. This camp had a caretaker, and his name was Cropsy. Now, this Cropsy was a drunkard... a sadist, and he got real pleasure out of hurting... scaring. And he had these garden shears. The kind with long, thin blades. He carried them all the time, wherever he went. And he had this kind of demonic way of looking at you. One time, Cropsy really went after ...

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Connections

References A Bay of Blood (1971)

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Soundtracks

"DOIN' IT"
Written by Anna Pepper
Produced by Alan Brewer

User Reviews

A Slasher Gem

The 1980's. What a decade. A decade known for bad fashion and hair bands, but also known as the decade of the slasher film. With the multitude of slasher flicks that came out in the 80's it was inevitable that some would be overlooked. The Burning is one of those great slash flicks. Filmed in the same location as Friday the 13th and unfairly compared to it. However The Burning kicks Friday the 13th to the curb. The Burning is about a camp caretaker who after being horribly disfigured by a group of campers playing a prank comes back for sweet vengeance. A dish best served bloody thanks to Tom Savini and his genius effects. This flick has it all. All the ingredients that make a good slash flick, you know what kind of stuff I mean. (T&A BABY!!, plenty of the red stuff and that unique brand of dialogue.) The story although now cliche doesn't miss a step. Definetly a must see for all slash fans. Oh yeah. The infamous raft scene you've heard so much about is AWESOME! Jason could have never pulled a stunt like that. KEEP SLASHIN!