THE BURNING

US, 1981, 87 minutes, Colour.
Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Jason Alexander, Holly Hunter.
Directed by Tony Maylam.

The Burning is yet another variation on Friday the 13th. In fact, it borrows the plot almost exactly from the original. The characters are the expected young people who are to be massacred. They look like their counterparts in so many American television shows. There is little attempt at any characterisation except for Alfred, who is made the butt of fun by everyone. There is a gross trick played on the sadistic caretaker, who then wreaks vengeance on the youngsters. The special effects are particularly gruesome and there is an overdoing of gore. Atmospherics are strong, especially for chases and frights in the woods. There are also the unnecessary dollops of sex. An incidental curiosity is the musical score performed by Rick Wakeman. The usual questions about American horror films and mass murder films apply.