Like an old, rude friend who a lot of people don't seem to like but you secretly do - Tony Maylam's undervalued slasher 'classic' from the early 80s has been given the premier treatment by Arrow - who've not only resurrected the fire damaged flick to show a whole new audience, but popped it into a shiny steel case that just looks darling on my shelf. Thanks fellas! Anyway, on with the show...



When an ill-advised prank misfires, summer camp caretaker Cropsy (Lou David) is committed to hospital with hideous burns, covering his body. Five years later and he's back on the streets and following an aborted bit of how's yer father with a unlucky lady of the night, 'ol crispy-fry is gunning for a piece of payback and the only way his murderous thirst can be quenched is to return to that very same summer camp and take a whole heap of revenge on a group of unsuspecting camp counsellors... To say this one delivers the gooey goods is an understatement - its like the perfect slasher template and for me, perfects on the first few 'Friday the 13th' flicks (which sadly it got lost in the glut of back in the day) with the right balance of gore, character development and tightened editing. Tom ('Day of the Dead', 'Friday the 13th') Savini's topnotch splatter effects really elevate this one into the major leagues and along with director Maylam's razor sharp eye - this one stands as the go to movie for aspiring slasher rip off merchants... Why its not held in higher horror regard baffles me as its got a fun cast, a great horror villain and a real deal set of pop out gore moments - but I guess it being so close to 'ol Jason back in the day set it back a few notches... shame, as its a fun gore filled ride.



Arrow Video's UK Blu-Ray steel book release is a very wonderful thing. With a beautifully designed cover presented in a funky orange steel case, the packaging is the business. Throw in a number of extra features such as a great audio commentary with Maylam and critic Alan Jones, a look at the make-up effects with Tom Savini, interview with composer Rick Wakeman and a whole heap of other bits 'n bobs, 'ol Cropsy has never been treated so well! The movie itself is presented in a cracking high def Blu-Ray transfer with vibrant audio that pops - ensuring those pesky shears sound go so snappy when they go about their business... All in all, this is a great release worthy of every penny. Recommended to new time horror fans looking to find out what all that early 80s fuss was about and for old timers like me who wanna forget the real world for awhile and recall a time when found footage only existed in hard to get hold of cannibal movies. Add to basket.