The Burning
A caretaker at a summer camp is burned when a prank goes tragically wrong. After several years of intensive treatment at hospital, he is released back into society, albeit missing some social skills. What follows is a bloody killing spree with the caretaker making his way back to his old stomping ground to confront one of the youths that accidentally burned him.
Critics Sentiment
Cropsy attacks from canoe and kills multiple campers on the raft
Extended sequences of camper relationships and camp activities
The film dramatically shifts from its lowest point during the tedious camp activities (4.0) to its peak during the infamous raft massacre sequence (9.0), a swing of 5 points as Savini's gore effects finally deliver the slasher goods.
The Burning follows a classic slasher trajectory, starting promisingly but bogging down in an extended, Meatballs-style middle section that frustrated reviewers with its derivative camp antics. The film redeems itself spectacularly with the infamous raft massacre, universally praised as a masterpiece of practical gore effects, before settling into a competent but unremarkable finale.
Full cast
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
K.C. Townsend
Hooker
John Tripp
Camp Counselor
Mansoor Najee-Ullah
Orderly
Jerry McGee
Intern
Crew
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