The Burning - Dark Publications

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Oh, those crazy days of slasher films, when every summer camp became a potential slaughterhouse. The Burning was one of the flood of movies that followed the success of Friday the 13th, and it's more notable today for an unexpected roster of talent than for its success as a horror movie. You will note that the opening titles feature the unusual credit of "Created and Produced by Harvey Weinstein," and sure enough, this is the first feature film bearing the name of the future Hollywood mogul. Let's acknowledge that Weinstein's instincts were shrewd, since this junky thing fit right into the kill-the-teenagers trend after Friday the 13th, and thus a safe way to get a return on investment. We're at Camp Blackstone, where a disfigured loony, still sizzling after getting burned by unhappy campers years earlier, exacts his revenge on the empty-headed current crop. Among the campers are future Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens, and (in a smaller part) Holly Hunter. There's a vintage early-'80s synthesizer score by Rick Wakeman, but the real star of the movie is effects whiz Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead), who does his bloody best with the murders. We don't care much about the teenagers, but students of gore will savor the throat-cuttings and the finger-loppings. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews: Read 98 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

4.5 STARS: Don't look, he'll see you...don't breathe, he'll hear you...don't move, you're dead!!! August 6, 2007
37 out of 42 found this review helpful

In my daily search for lost horror movie gems, I thought to myself that I may have found one in the notorious slasher movie called "The Burning". Indeed, the movie is notorious because it was previously banned in some countries as the gore is considered to be graphic in the extreme. However, upon a viewing of the movie, I came away thinking to myself that it wasn't so much the gore that would offend the average viewer especially horror movie lovers (Tom Savini was terrific as usual), but, if anything, perhaps the sex scenes and nudity were a little strong for younger viewers, certainly not enough to be banned, however.

Anyway, "The Burning" starts off simple enough as the audience is thrown into the middle of Camp Blackstone as an ornery man named Cropsy is being conspired upon by a group of boys who want to "pay" Cropsy back for his sinister ways. The trick goes bad and Cropsy is burned so badly that no skin grafts would take and Cropsy is reduced to an inhuman freak of nature. Still, Cropsy recovers his physical strength and then some it seems as he begins his mission to gain revenge upon those campers that wronged him, including any other girls or adolescent sex-crazed boys that might be in the area.

The plot in "The Burning" is simple and quite effective as it is based upon the age old act of revenge. After he leaves the hospital, Cropsy haunts the woods of another camp where one of his former pranksters/assailants is now a camp counselor. Now, if you have seen "Madman" or any of the "Friday the 13th parts 1-6" movies, you have a basic idea of what it going to happen, or do you? An element of surprise along with some graphic violence brilliantly orchestrated by the legendary, Tom Savini, marks this slasher as a cut above the rest. Interestingly enough, even children, in broad daylight no less (which is certainly not the norm in horror flicks), are not spared in this movie, and I think that makes this movie more realistic, scarier and certainly more horrifying. No one is exempt from the vicious and evil Cropsy. Perhaps, it is this graphic violence where not even the children are safe in the broad daylight that shocks the conscience of the audience and sets this movie apart from the abovementioned horror flicks.

Indeed, "The Burning" is similar to "Madman" and "Friday the 13th" but also different. "The Burning" is constructed differently and, as I mentioned above, the majority of the death scenes occur in the daytime, which as I said is quite unusual for horror flicks, but very effective in creating a sense of realism which only works to magnify the horror of this film.

The infamous "raft scene" (***SPOILER ALERT***) takes place in broad day light as well, and the audience really has no idea about what is about to happen, and that's part of what makes it so great along with the brilliant special effects of Tom Savini and the brutal violence associated with this scene. The setting of the raft scene is rather unorthodox for a horror movie as you have children safe in a raft during broad daylight and having a great time no less. However, a lonely canoe emerges, the contents of which are largely unknown or to say the least surprising. The audience knows that the campers' canoes are missing, that a girl is also missing, therefore, the viewer thinks it could be the body of this girl, but when the kids on the raft come upon what seems to be this lonely canoe, a scene which ranks highly as one of the greatest scenes of pure horror ever filmed in a slasher flick (or any horror movie for that matter) ensues. The "raft scene" is an absolutely brilliant piece of cinematic horror and the movie is worth owning for this scene alone, although the movie is very good overall as well.

Cropsy, as a villain, is quite formidable, sadistic, perverted, strong and evil, and after the burning of his body, it is apparent that Cropsy takes on a rather inhuman form with monstrous characteristics and qualities that only amplify his prowess as a villain. In fact, it's safe to say that Cropsy is an evil, sadistic and perverted freak of nature.

The main things I like about "The Burning" is the unexpected scene the audience gets with the raft, the realistic-type atmosphere and the brilliant job done by Tom Savini on the blood and gore associated with the murders in this movie. The kills are violent, shocking to the conscience, come without warning, vicious and are committed without remorse leaving the audience horrified and paralyzed with fear of Cropsy.

Criticisms of this flick are few but not entirely insignificant. As with many slasher movies, there is some needless dialogue, gratuitous nudity and some scenes that maybe funny in a sense, but have absolutely nothing to do with the movie as far as its merits as a horror movie are concerned. However, there is some constructive character development in these scenes and the camp theme is presented only too well (gives me flashbacks) and quite accurately in the movie. It is unfortunate that some of the scenes do reflect some weak acting at times, and if you are not really into the humor of sexual inuendos and such, you may find yourself bored as the movie tends to drag just a bit in the middle.

Still, "The Burning" heats up into a very nice horror movie and while "The Burning" may be inferior to some of the elite horror movies on certain levels of producing scares and atmospheric "horror" in the sense of inspiring fear in the audience, the movie is still very effective as a horror movie with its graphic violence and shocking death scenes. The theme music with Cropsy is very effective and the audience settles right into Cropsy's dark, morbid and isolated world of evil. The atmosphere in "The Burning" with regard to its support of the movie as a horror flick comes and goes with Cropsy really, but when it's there, it's very effective. In other words, when Cropsy appears to be out of the picture, the movie takes on a kind of comedy-like atmosphere in a sense and it is funny, but this also works to ease the uneasy emotions and tension in the audience stimulated by the horror and fear that "The Burning" produces.

At times, "The Burning" struggles to maintain the pure horror movie spirit and the effect is spurts of virulent horror (albeit very effective spurts of horror), but we do not have in this movie the unrelenting terror and building tension of "Halloween". The acting in "The Burning" is average and the characters are not very likeable which may temper the horror just a bit. With all of that being said, "The Burning" is a must-own horror movie classic in my opinion, and is clearly superior to all of today's trash and sacreligious remakes of horror movie classics. Indeed, "The Burning" is very effective as a horror movie and is one of the greatest slasher flicks ever made while also earning a nice little place on my DVD shelf. "The Burning" is a clear-cut classic in my opinion, although the rating says FOUR STARS, my official HorrorMan rating is 4.5 STARS.

As a side note, look for Jason Alexander who plays a happy-go-lucky type of guy who fosters comedy during the dry scenes as the movie tends to drag a bit in its efforts to inspire a horror-movie like atmosphere...the now famous actor on the hit TV sitcom "Seinfeld" was able to steal a few weak comedy scenes with his buddies. GLAD THEY FINALLY CAME OUT WITH THIS MOVIE ON DVD!! THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP CLINT!!

4 out of 5 stars

NOT just another slasher-movie March 3, 2003
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

There are so many slasher-movies with the usual cliches; dumb blondes (no offence) that are running up the stairs instead of running just out the front door to escape from the boogeyman; cars that don't start; everybody being killed one by one, and in the end the bodies suddenly pop up when the only survivor (the dumb blonde) finally starts to suspect there's something wrong etc.
This flick is totally different, 5 people are killed by the maniac at the same time in broad daylight. Their bodies are discovered by a whole group of teens, who are crying for the lost of their friends. This is the first time that such things are shown in a slasher-movie and I had my share.
So this movie has an entertaining story and isn't that predictable as most of the slasker-movies are. The SFX are also very good.
My advise, if you like slasher-movies don't miss out on this one, but also don't expect a -nightmare on Elm street- success.

4 out of 5 stars

The Burning February 21, 2001
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I remember first seeing this movie when I was about 5 and beingso scared it gave me nightmares. Do not take this lightly. I had beenwatching horror films since I was 2 and no horror film had reallyscared me until I saw this one. Anyway, I saw it again recently and itwas still pretty scary. It may be considered a "Friday the13th" rip-off, but I personally thought it was on par with theFriday the 13th series

The killer in "The Burning" wasincredibly creepy because he is never really seen, other than thefirst and last five minutes of the movie. You are left with yourimagination to visualize how horribly disfigured this man has becomefrom the cruel prank played on him. And unlike the murder of almostevery other horror film, Cropsy isn't afraid to take his anger out onanyone, adult or child.

Remembering this film, I am reminded of oneparticular scene which has been mentioned several times. THE RAFTSCENE. No other horror movie (to my memory) has ever had the guts topull off what was done here. This scene is still implanted in my mindand will no doubt go down in horror movie history.

Another attributewhich makes this movie completely frightening is the haunting score. Istill hear those haunting keyboards playing in my occasionalnightmares. Creepy.

Creepy atmosphere, haunting score, and actingjust cheesy enough to work make this a memorable 80s slasher. Totallyunderrated and a must-see for any horror connoisseur. Also try Madman,which was another movie based on the "Cropsy Legends."

5 out of 5 stars BURNING TO BE ON DVD February 4, 2004
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

THIS IS THAT ONE GOOD HORROR MOVIE THAT NEEDS TO BE ON DVD IVE BEN AFTER THIS MOVIE FOR 3 YEARS NOW WHY IS THIS MOVIE NOT ON DVD I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU LOVE TO SEE THIS ON DVD

4 out of 5 stars The Way Camping Was Meant to Be June 23, 2002
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

The joyful tales of the fabled summercamp getaway have come to us through the ages and actually made their "impact" in the 80's. Its easy to see why, too, because so many people can associate with the plights of the atypical camper. Having to deal with all those awkward situations as a teenager, from the pesky interactions with attractive semi-clad to altogether naked females to the bullyesque intimidation of "swimming with human sharks," seems to make life hard. Mingle this with the brutal aspects of that new kid's game, throat gardening, and its easy to see why parents keeping sending their children back for more.
This installment in the killing fields/camping mentality films mixes better-than-average acting (seeing Jason Alexander with hair seems to be an odd experience to people only familiar with his Seinfeld days), some nice touches of gore, and a menacing pair of hedgeclippers into something that stands above many of the "classic" slasher films. It nice to see the concepts of so many movie failures mixed into a better forum and done pretty well, leaving you to sit back, get to know the characters, and count them as the bodies drop.

Its definately something to pick up for calming your kid. Show them this and tame that troubled tot without having to shell out a fortune or go on daytime television. The threat of being dismembered has its advantages!

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