20 Cult Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die
15. The Burning (1981)
Made at the height of the low-budget slasher film craze, The Burning is arguably better than the films it was trying to capitalize on (Friday The 13th in particular). The film tells the story of an alcoholic caretaker at a camp (nicknamed “Cropsy”) who falls victim to a prank carried out by a bunch of nothing-better-to-do campers who accidentally burn the poor guy alive. After recovering, Cropsy leaves the hospital and heads back to the camp to execute his revenge.
If there is one thing that sets this film apart from the pact, it’s the death scenes. The great Tom Savini actually passed up working on Friday The 13th Part 2 to head up the special effects for this film, which ultimately became banned in the UK for a particularly gruesome and bloody scene in which Cropsy hurdles out of an abandoned canoe and dismembers five campers in hasty succession. The word epic doesn't even begin to describe it.
As you could probably imagine, The Burning was severely cut by the MPAA and international censors upon its release. With that being said, be sure to find an uncut version of the film if you’re able to.