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 | slasher | revenge | scissors | 

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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 UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cropsy

Filming Locations:

Western New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax,The Cropsy Venture

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last act of the film was meant to have taken place in a cave, but problems arose during filming and the location had to be changed at the last minute.

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Goofs

When the helicopter arrives with the police at the end of the movie you can see someone holding a movie camera in the passenger seat.

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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.

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Alternate Versions

Although the original UK release by Thorn EMI was the cut cinema version, it was released uncut in error. Thorn EMI recalled the tapes, and replaced them with the cut version. Cut versions have a datestamp on the tape label, all other packaging is identical. The uncut version was prosecuted under the obscene publications act, and banned as a "video nasty"

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Connections

Referenced in Hot Fuzz (2007)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

The raft scene man! That's some good work done by Savini.

I first saw this in the late 80s. Revisited it recently on a DVD. Weinstein brothers made their debut with this poor man's Friday the 13th done right. The special effects were done by Tom Savini n he nailed it. The raft scene is the best highlight. Lots of stabbings via the gardening shears, slashings, severed fingers, etc. It's definitely worth a view for fans of slasher movies. There is sufficient violence n nudity but the sex scene is one of the lamest. The plot- a group of kids decides to play a prank on the caretaker of a camp. The joke goes bad n the victim sets himself on fire. He is released after five years from the hospital but his face has been deformed n he seeks vengeance. The cast included future well-known actors. The movie is full of slasher clichés, wandering away from everyone for a nude pond dip, having sex in the woods, going down to the basement alone, not defending oneself but rather running helter-skelter, not making an effort to make sure that the killer is dead once its down. The movie has one very different aspect, there was no waiting until the end for the big reveal of the killer's identity, its fully revealed from the onset. The cinematography is decent with the lush greens of the camps surrounding forest n the images of flowing water.