10 Forgotten 80s Horror Movies You MUST Watch

10. The Burning

In the wake of the overwhelming success of the Friday the 13th franchise, many slashers emerged with the intent of capitalising on the bloody exploits of Jason Voorhees and co. Among them is 1981's The Burning, a relatively small feature that while bearing a notable similarity to its source of inspiration, still featured enough to stand out and gain a cult following over the years.

Inspired by the urban legend of the Cropsey maniac, the slasher follows camp caretaker Cropsy after he recovers from a prank played on him by a bunch of campers gone horribly wrong. Terribly disfigured (both physically and mentally), the caretaker turns into a serial killer thirsty for revenge against nearby campers.

Upon its release, critics were not impressed by its similarities to the 1980 horror classic and denounced its gore (this was part of a wider crackdown on 'video nasties' during the decade). However, its reception has warmed significantly in recent years, with modern critics and audiences praising its setpieces and special effects work from Tom Savini.

It is not a genre classic or game-changer, but it works as an appropriately spine-chilling camp site horror flick.