The Burning Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Burnt camp caretaker seeks revenge with garden shears, turning summer camp into a topiary of terror.

🍿 The Burning: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Prank Gone Wrong

At Camp Blackfoot, a group of mischievous campers decide to play a prank on the camp caretaker, Cropsy. They place a skull rigged with candles in his cabin, intending to give him a scare. However, the prank backfires when Cropsy accidentally knocks the skull over, causing a fire to erupt in his cabin. Engulfed in flames, Cropsy is severely burned, setting the stage for his vengeful return years later. This opening sets up the antagonist and provides the inciting incident for the horror to come.

Cropsy’s Revenge

Five years later, Cropsy is released from the hospital, bearing the scars of his disfigurement. Consumed by rage, he seeks revenge on those he deems responsible for his suffering. He begins his spree by targeting a prostitute, establishing his violent intent. Then, armed with garden shears, he makes his way to Camp Stonewater, a neighboring summer camp, where he begins stalking and terrorizing the counselors and campers. The plot thickens as Cropsy picks off his victims one by one, showcasing the slasher elements of the film.

The Canoe Trip Massacre

A group of counselors and campers embark on a canoe trip down Devil’s Creek, unaware of the danger lurking in the woods. As they share campfire stories, including the legend of Cropsy, the atmosphere turns ominous. Later, a couple ventures off for a romantic encounter, only to fall victim to Cropsy’s wrath. In a particularly gruesome scene, Cropsy ambushes a group on a makeshift raft, resulting in a bloody massacre. This sequence is a hallmark of the film, showcasing Tom Savini’s special effects work.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Cropsy (Lou David): A disfigured and vengeful former caretaker who seeks retribution on the campers he blames for his horrific injuries.
• Todd (Brian Matthews): A head counselor haunted by his past involvement in the prank that injured Cropsy, now trying to protect his campers.
• Michelle (Leah Ayres): A compassionate co-counselor who works with Todd to safeguard the campers from the escalating danger.
• Alfred (Brian Backer): A social outcast camper who becomes Cropsy’s primary target and eventually helps to defeat him.
• Glazer (Larry Joshua): A brutish bully camper whose actions escalate tensions and contribute to the chaos in the camp.
• Dave (Jason Alexander): A fun-loving camper who tries to keep spirits up amidst the growing terror but ultimately falls victim to Cropsy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Camp Counselor: “They never found his body, but they say his spirit lives in the forest. This forest. A maniac, a thing no longer human.” – Telling the scary Cropsey campfire story to the campers.
• Camp Counselor: “They say he lives on whatever he can catch. Eats them raw, alive maybe.” – Continuing to scare the campers with details of Cropsey’s supposed habits.
• Camp Counselor: “And every year he picks on a summer camp and seeks his revenge for the terrible things those kids did to him. Every year he kills.” – Describing Cropsey’s motivation for attacking summer camps.
• Camp Counselor: “Right now he’s out there. Watching. Waiting. So don’t look; he’ll see you. Don’t breathe; he’ll hear you. Don’t move; you’re dead!” – Ending the Cropsey campfire story with a frightening warning.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1.5M
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $315

💥 The Burning Reviews

Personal Review

I remember being genuinely creeped out by this movie when I first saw it! Cropsy is such a menacing figure, especially when you finally get a glimpse of his burnt face. The raft scene is still shocking, and I always find myself looking over my shoulder whenever I’m near a pair of garden shears. It is definitely worth a watch for anyone who loves classic slasher films. The story follows campers from summer camp goes with canoe trip to Devil’s Creek once there they become targets, from a former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, with a pair of hedge clippers to take revenge on the campers. Once there they are trapped while assailant is stalking them and kills them one by one.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 1980s slasher films”
  • “Horror enthusiasts interested in practical gore effects”
  • “Viewers who appreciate cult classic horror movies”
  • “Those interested in early works of famous actors like Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Nudity and sexual content”
  • “Disturbing images”
  • “Stalking and murder”

Professional Reviews

• Horror Haven: “The Burning is a classic slasher with a memorable villain and gruesome kills. Tom Savini’s effects are top-notch, elevating this above other similar films. While the plot is familiar, the execution is solid, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.
• Slasher Studios: “While The Burning is not groundbreaking, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from an early ’80s slasher: gratuitous violence and predictable plot. Savini’s work makes it stand out, and the raft scene is legendary. However, the characters are bland, and the pacing is uneven.
• 80s Flix: “As far as 80’s slashers go, *The Burning* is way above average. There are some genuine tension-building moments and quite a few decent scares. The effects are above average thanks to gore-king, Tom Savini, and Rick Wakeman’s electronic music score is far more effective than Harry Manfredini’s psycho-like strings in *Friday the 13th*.

Audience Reactions

The raft scene is incredibly gory and memorable.: Viewers praise Tom Savini’s special effects and the film’s raw, unapologetic violence.

Cropsy’s design is truly terrifying.: Fans appreciate the film’s atmosphere and suspense, despite its familiar plot.

Overall Consensus: A classic slasher film with impressive gore effects and a creepy villain, though the plot is predictable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Tom Savini turned down the opportunity to work on Friday the 13th Part 2 to do the special effects for The Burning.”
• “The concept of the film is based on a real campfire story told at summer camps in and around New Jersey and upstate New York about a character named Cropsey.”
• “The film marked early roles for Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens, and Holly Hunter, before they achieved mainstream fame.”
• “Miramax, the production company, was named after the Weinstein brothers’ parents, Miriam and Max.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Burning?

As a cult classic slasher film, ‘The Burning’ (1981) has limited availability on major streaming platforms. While it may occasionally appear on services like Shudder or Screambox, it’s not a permanent fixture on mainstream platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. Your best bet for viewing is to check for digital purchase or rental options on platforms like Apple TV, Google Play Movies, or Vudu. Physical media (DVD or Blu-ray) is also available through online retailers like Amazon, which often offers uncut versions. Keep an eye out for special edition releases, particularly those from distributors specializing in horror films.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Burning, you might like these similar films:

• Friday the 13th (1980): Direct comparison: A classic slasher film set at a summer camp with a mysterious killer stalking the teenagers.
• Madman (1982): Thematic Similar: Another slasher film based on a campfire legend, where a seemingly dead madman returns to terrorize campers.
• Sleepaway Camp (1983): Era-Specific Alternative: Another 80s slasher set at a summer camp, known for its shocking twist ending and gory kills.
• Hatchet (2006): Modern Equivalent: A modern slasher film that pays homage to the classics, featuring a disfigured killer in a swamp seeking revenge.

🛒 The Burning Related Products

• The Burning (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: Limited edition Blu-ray featuring uncut version of the film with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. A must-have for horror collectors.
• Garden Shears – Heavy Duty: Get your own professional grade garden shears, perfect for any task. Not responsible for what you do with them.
• Camp Stonewater T-Shirt: Officially licensed t-shirt featuring the Camp Stonewater logo. Show your love for the movie with this comfortable and stylish tee.
• Tom Savini’s Grande Illusions: Learn the secrets of special effects makeup from the master himself. See how Savini created the gore for *The Burning* and other horror classics.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Burning features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Devil’s Creek Breakdown” – performed by Alan Brewer

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Burning reviewed by Mark Kermode

Want to hear a really insightful take on ‘Burning’? Mark Kermode breaks down the film’s complex narrative and underlying tensions – his perspective is spot on, and it really made me appreciate the movie even more!

✨ Rate