“The Burning” (バーニング / The Burning), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1981, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA62

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1981 for the first Japanese theatrical release of The Burning, the cult American slasher directed by Tony Maylam and starring Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Brian Backer, and Larry Joshua. Dark, graphic, and immediately menacing, this is a superb piece of early-1980s Japanese horror paper for one of the most enduring summer-camp shockers of the period.

Film background
Released in 1981, The Burning is one of the key non-franchise slashers of the early 1980s. Set around a summer camp and built on the legend of the horribly disfigured Cropsy, the film follows a chain of revenge killings carried out with a pair of garden shears. Directed by Tony Maylam, it stands out for its grim tone, strong camp atmosphere, and its now-famous place within the golden age of American slasher cinema. Over time it has become a major cult favourite among horror collectors and genre fans.

Poster design
This Japanese poster is fantastically effective. The upper half is dominated by a huge black silhouette of Cropsy holding his garden shears aloft, turning the killer into an almost abstract figure of pure threat. Behind him, a bright white burst of light adds an ominous, near-supernatural intensity. At the bottom, a smaller high-contrast image of three teenagers trapped in a smoky night setting reinforces the film’s camp-horror mood, while the large pink Japanese title バーニング cuts powerfully across the centre. It is a brilliant, stripped-down Japanese horror design—bold, sinister, and extremely displayable.

Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 43 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.