The Burning

The Burning

Movie (1981)

A legend of terror isn't a campfire story anymore!

A caretaker at a summer camp is burned when a prank goes tragically wrong. After several years of intensive treatment at hospital, he is released back into society, albeit missing some social skills. What follows is a bloody killing spree with the caretaker making his way back to his old stomping ground to confront one of the youths that accidentally burned him.

Horror
91 minutes
Released
Jump to family guidance

Family guidance

Ages 17+

This film features extreme violence, intense slasher-genre tropes, and disturbing themes of disfigurement and revenge. The content is unsuitable for younger viewers due to the persistent nature of the threats and aggressive imagery.

Every child is different. Use this guide alongside what you know about yours.

What to know before you start

Content details to help you decide what fits your child.

Sex & Nudity

4/5

The film features brief scenes of female nudity, specifically in a changing room setting. These moments are purely incidental to the genre and contain no sexual acts.

Violence & Gore

5/5

This film is a classic slasher horror that features frequent, graphic, and realistic depictions of violence involving sharp objects and intense physical injury. The gore is extreme and serves as the primary focus of the horror elements.

Profanity

3/5

The dialogue includes moderate profanity, such as 'sh*t' (several times), 'f*ck' (a few times), and 'b*tch,' generally used during moments of heightened tension or anger.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

2/5

There are scenes showing characters consuming alcohol, primarily in social settings typical of a summer camp environment. No heavy substance abuse or drug-related themes are present.

Frightening Scenes

5/5

The film is designed to be highly unsettling, utilizing constant suspense, stalk-and-slash tropes, and jump scares. The psychological intensity and graphic nature of the threats make it unsuitable for younger viewers.

Key Insights

Quick summary and important considerations

This is a scary movie about a villain who hurts people, which is intended for older teenagers and adults who enjoy horror stories.

Content Warnings

Graphic violence
Body horror
Severe burns/disfigurement

Detailed Analysis

In-depth insights for parents and educators

What Parents Need to Know

Expect high levels of gore and sustained tension typical of 1980s slasher films. The primary antagonist is driven by severe disfigurement, which may be a sensitive topic.

What Kids Can Learn

No developmental benefits beyond entertainment indicated in available information.

Key Topics Discussed

Revenge
Survival
Consequences of bullying

Why Parents Might Like It

Horror enthusiasts may appreciate the film as a classic example of early 1980s slasher cinema and practical effects work.

Positives & learning

Positive messages

0/5

The narrative centers on vengeance and retribution rather than constructive conflict resolution or moral growth.

Role models

1/5

Characters lack depth, serving primarily as archetypes within a slasher framework rather than demonstrating admirable behavioral traits.

Representation

1/5

No diverse representation indicated in available information; characters reflect standard 1980s horror genre stereotypes.

Learning

0/5

No educational value indicated in available information; this is purely intended for genre entertainment.

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