The Burning

The Burning (1981)

  • 60% of users liked it
    (5,769 ratings)

Apart from early appearances by Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter, an interesting score by Rick Wakeman, and some typically effective work by effects icon Tom Savini, this slasher film is also among the more frightening of its kind. The plot concerns a summer-camp caretaker named Cropsy (Lou David)… More

R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By
Tony Maylam
Written By
Harvey Weinstein, Tony Maylam
Genres
Horror
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1981 Wide
On DVD
Sep 11, 2007

Critic Reviews

  • Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

    One of the unexpected horror gems of the 1980s.

  • Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com

    One of the more inspired early-'80s slasher pics.

  • Bill Gibron, PopMatters

    While it will never work it's way into the upper echelon of fright flicks, The Burning remains a solid sample of '80s horror showboating.

  • Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

    The body count is admirably high, the splat comes fast and furious, and the whole dang formula feels strangely comfortable after all these years.

  • Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

    It's a legitimately ugly movie; it gets under your skin.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Melvin W


    Camp Counselor: Every year he kills. 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!  "A brutal horrific act made him kill and kill and kill" The Burning… More

  • Cory T


    If 'Friday the 13th' wasn't gleefully shlocky and stupefyingly dumb, it would probably resemble 'The Burning', a terrifying, brutal debut for producer Bob Weinstein. The nubile female bodies are abundant, the sex-starved boys are present and the frolicking… More

  • Drew S


    The Burning is trashy and not particularly innovative, but it plays around with slasher tropes just enough to make it worth watching. There are a few legitimate chills and some really sinister set pieces (the boat), and Tom Savini's gore is awesome. The acting is universally… More

  • Bruce B


    I was very surprised as to the number of young actors in this movie that went on to be stars. Karen Hunter, Jason Alexander, Ned Eisenberg, and Brian Backer just to name a few. Also very surprised at the many full female nude scenes of what are supposed to be teens at a teen camp.… More

  • Tim S


    I give The Burning props for several reasons. First of all, it has some pretty decent gore effects. Second, the characters and situations are fun and interesting enough to watch despite the fact that nothing happens to them for nearly an hour. Third, Tom Savini was the make-up… More

Read all 18 featured audience ratings

Cast

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