'The Burning' is an early 80's slasher film using the New York City area urban legend of "Cropsey" as a jumping off point. Here Cropsey was the grounds keeper of a summer camp who was horribly disfigured by a fire caused by a prank against him gone wrong. After five years in the hospital, undergoing ultimately unsuccessful skin grafts, the disfigure and embittered Cropsey decides to seek his vengeance on campers and their councilors.
It is in effect a pretty standard type 80's slasher film, but I thought one of the better done ones. It hits all the expected beats, the fairly large cast of characters are mostly well fleshed out and distinct, and its got a decent gimmick with Cropsey making his kills via a pair of pruning shears. This is also of note as the first movie produced by the notorious Harvey Weinstein, who is also one of three people listed under story by credit, the actual screenplay was co written by his brother Bob Weinstein. You can see a little of Harvey in a couple of the characters.
This movie also boasts an unusual amount of future stars in the cast, including Holly Hunter, Jason Alexander and Fisher Stevens. The film under performed at the time owing to the slasher glut of the early 80's, but has since gained a cult following. There has never been a sequel or a remake. Again this is a pretty standard horror, but I thought the cast was unusually good and so I enjoyed it more then most films of this type. I would even say its better then any of the 'Friday the 13th' films. ***
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