Though the main draw of this virtual Friday The 13th clone is unquestionably the FX work of Tom Savini, The Burning is an enjoyable slasher flick in its own right, and it's likely that even without the maestro on hand, this would still be a serviceable outing. With a couple of surprisingly effective jump-scares, a fantastic score by Rick Wakeman, and early appearances by some solid character actors like Larry Joshua and Ned Eisenberg, there are some quality elements here that drastically elevate the rote material.
Elsewhere, most of the film follows the splatter movie guidebook to the letter, right down to the campfire retelling of the killer's origin and the false scare that follows. Strangely, an eerily identical scene appears in Friday The 13th Part 2, which even utilizes identical camera angles, but since the films were produced at roughly the same time and released a week apart, it's impossible to figure out who copied who.
The characters are all time-tested archetypes (the prankster, the bully, the sexpot, etc.), and in keeping with the standard tropes of the genre, most of the actors are clearly far older than the teens they play. Seinfeld's George Alexander is the most obviously out of place, and he appears to be well into his 30's here. However, his sophomoric antics (and full head of hair) offer genuine curiosity value, and if you've ever secretly wanted to see George Costanza's bare buttocks, this is the movie for you.
The Burning does run a bit slow, and the particularly nasty murder of a prostitute early in the movie seems tacked on to tide gore fans over for the 40 minutes of summer camp antics that follow, since it makes absolutely no sense in the scope of the plot. While the first killing does augment the rather svelte body count, the tone of the sequence plays out like an outtake from Maniac, and this tidbit of gratuitous butchery is decidedly disjointed from the rest of the film.
After this befuddling introduction, the film spends far too much time developing the dynamics of the one-dimensional campers. However, when the "fun with pruning shears" portion of the program eventually kicks in, The Burning starts unfolding like a top-notch slasher film, and the ensuing splatter is offered up with reckless abandon. An extended throat-slitting lingers on screen far longer than any fan familiar with the wimpy stance of the MPAA will be expecting, and when you see how explicitly the death of the film's stereotypical machismo-laden lunkhead is presented, you'll reach the very pleasant realization that despite the "R" on the back of the case, the DVD release of The Burning is actually the original Unrated cut. A nifty mass slaughter on a make-shift raft plays like a Tom Savini highlight reel, and those who appreciate the artistry inherent in the days of classic gore effects will probably end up rewinding that sequence a few times.
Though the killer's back-story isn't particularly novel, Savini brings Cropsy to vivid life with the help of some great prosthetics, and had this film been as successful as the Crystal Lake follies it blatantly emulates, this would have been an interesting character to follow through a franchise.
The climax, where Cropsy is revealed in all his charred glory, brings the affair to a sturdy finish, though attentive viewers will spot a couple of glaring gaffes. The final scene suggests a sequel without demanding one, which ends the film on a haunting note that ties things up in a tidy and satisfying package.
The Burning isn't quite a classic, but any fan of the genre has squandered 90 minutes in far worse ways than this. The best portions of this modest thriller are right on par with the most classic moments in the genre, and since The Burning delivers all of the most crucial elements of a great slasher movie, it ultimately ends up being a rousing success. For what it's worth, this is a personal favorite.
Elsewhere, most of the film follows the splatter movie guidebook to the letter, right down to the campfire retelling of the killer's origin and the false scare that follows. Strangely, an eerily identical scene appears in Friday The 13th Part 2, which even utilizes identical camera angles, but since the films were produced at roughly the same time and released a week apart, it's impossible to figure out who copied who.
The characters are all time-tested archetypes (the prankster, the bully, the sexpot, etc.), and in keeping with the standard tropes of the genre, most of the actors are clearly far older than the teens they play. Seinfeld's George Alexander is the most obviously out of place, and he appears to be well into his 30's here. However, his sophomoric antics (and full head of hair) offer genuine curiosity value, and if you've ever secretly wanted to see George Costanza's bare buttocks, this is the movie for you.
The Burning does run a bit slow, and the particularly nasty murder of a prostitute early in the movie seems tacked on to tide gore fans over for the 40 minutes of summer camp antics that follow, since it makes absolutely no sense in the scope of the plot. While the first killing does augment the rather svelte body count, the tone of the sequence plays out like an outtake from Maniac, and this tidbit of gratuitous butchery is decidedly disjointed from the rest of the film.
After this befuddling introduction, the film spends far too much time developing the dynamics of the one-dimensional campers. However, when the "fun with pruning shears" portion of the program eventually kicks in, The Burning starts unfolding like a top-notch slasher film, and the ensuing splatter is offered up with reckless abandon. An extended throat-slitting lingers on screen far longer than any fan familiar with the wimpy stance of the MPAA will be expecting, and when you see how explicitly the death of the film's stereotypical machismo-laden lunkhead is presented, you'll reach the very pleasant realization that despite the "R" on the back of the case, the DVD release of The Burning is actually the original Unrated cut. A nifty mass slaughter on a make-shift raft plays like a Tom Savini highlight reel, and those who appreciate the artistry inherent in the days of classic gore effects will probably end up rewinding that sequence a few times.
Though the killer's back-story isn't particularly novel, Savini brings Cropsy to vivid life with the help of some great prosthetics, and had this film been as successful as the Crystal Lake follies it blatantly emulates, this would have been an interesting character to follow through a franchise.
The climax, where Cropsy is revealed in all his charred glory, brings the affair to a sturdy finish, though attentive viewers will spot a couple of glaring gaffes. The final scene suggests a sequel without demanding one, which ends the film on a haunting note that ties things up in a tidy and satisfying package.
The Burning isn't quite a classic, but any fan of the genre has squandered 90 minutes in far worse ways than this. The best portions of this modest thriller are right on par with the most classic moments in the genre, and since The Burning delivers all of the most crucial elements of a great slasher movie, it ultimately ends up being a rousing success. For what it's worth, this is a personal favorite.