The Burning

The Burning. 1981.

The Burning is a 1981 slasher film directed by Tony Maylam, with music by Rick Wakeman. It tells the story of a cruel, alcoholic, sadistic caretaker at a summer camp (nicknamed “Cropsy” and based on the urban legend of Cropsey) who falls victim to a prank that went out of control which leaves him horribly burned and disfigured. Following his release from hospital, he returns to his old stomping ground and begins a murder spree. The film was one of the first from Miramax Films: Harvey Weinstein produced the film and Bob Weinstein was a co-writer. Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens and Oscar winner Holly Hunter all made their motion picture debuts in this film. (Wiki)

Release date: May 8, 1981 (initial release)
Director: Tony Maylam
DVD release date: September 11, 2007
Running time: 91 minutes
Screenplay: Tony Maylam, Harvey Weinstein

The Burning is a must see film for any fan of 80’s slashers. A maniac stalking the woods of a remote summer camp seeking vengence upon sex crazed half naked teens sounds all to familiar doesn’t it? While The Burning is a blatant rip off of Friday the 13th, who cares? It is a decent film in it’s own right. A cast of likable characters, tons of blood (by none other than Tom Savini) and a horribly disfigured villain. What’s not to like. Add in some 80’s synth (yeah!), full frontal female nudity, some gory deaths and a remote backwoods camp setting and you have all the right ingredients for a quintessential early 80’s slasher. While not perfect by any means, The Burning is definitely recommended viewing in my opinion. Oh ya and you get to see George Castanza with a full head of hair!! The Burning @ IMDb.