Character Relationship Map: The Burning

Characters

• Todd (played by Brian Matthews) — protagonist

  Todd is a counselor at Stonewater who leads a canoe trip with Michelle and tells the campers the legend of Cropsy. After Cropsy attacks the group, Todd is knocked unconscious while pursuing Alfred, th...

• Michelle (played by Leah Ayres) — protagonist

  Michelle is a counselor at Stonewater and works alongside Todd. She intervenes when Alfred frightens Sally, joins Todd in leading the canoe trip, and later discovers the missing campers and their cano...

• Alfred (played by Brian Backer) — supporting

  Alfred is a camper at Stonewater who frightens Sally and is bullied by other campers; Todd learns that Alfred had wanted revenge on Glazer. He sees Cropsy outside the boys' cabin and later witnesses C...

• Glazer (played by Larry Joshua) — supporting

  Glazer is Sally's boyfriend and the target of Alfred's desire for revenge. During the camp's later attacks, he leaves Sally to fetch matches and returns to find her dead. Cropsy then pins Glazer to a...

• Eddy (played by Ned Eisenberg) — supporting

  Eddy is a counselor at Stonewater who frightens the campers by wearing a mask and carrying a machete. Later, he goes to the lake with Karen, but leaves after she decides she does not want to have sex....

• Sally (played by Carrick Glenn) — supporting

  Sally is a camper at Stonewater and Glazer's girlfriend. Alfred frightens her as she exits the shower, prompting Michelle to intervene. Later, Glazer leaves her briefly to fetch matches, and Cropsy ki...

• Karen (played by Carolyn Houlihan) — supporting

  Karen is a counselor at Stonewater who goes to the lake with Eddy. She decides she does not want to have sex, and Eddy leaves her there. Cropsy then appears and slashes her throat with his pruning she...

• Cropsy (played by Lou David) — supporting

  Cropsy is the abusive caretaker of Camp Blackfoot, badly burned when a prank by campers causes his cabin to catch fire. Five years later, scarred and released from the hospital, he murders a prostitut...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Michelle → Alfred (Power Authority Figure And Camper) — Michelle exercises camp authority over Alfred after his disturbing behavior.

  Michelle demands that Alfred leave after he frightens Sally, while Todd explains that Alfred had been bullied.

• Michelle → Karen (Professional Counselor And Camper) — Michelle is responsible for the group and reacts to Karen's disappearance.

  Michelle leads the canoe trip that includes Karen and later discovers that Karen and the canoes are missing.

• Todd → Karen (Professional Trip Leader And Camper) — Todd has a supervisory role during the canoe excursion.

  Todd and Michelle lead a canoe trip down Devil's Creek with the campers, including Karen.

• Eddy → Karen (Romantic Interest) — Their attempted sexual encounter ends when Karen refuses.

  Eddy and Karen go to the lake, but Karen decides not to have sex, so Eddy leaves.

• Sally → Glazer (Romantic Boyfriend) — Their relationship shapes Alfred's grievance and Glazer's actions during the attack.

  The plot explicitly identifies Glazer as Sally's boyfriend when describing Alfred's motive for revenge.

• Todd → Michelle (Professional Counselor Colleague) — They work together as camp counselors and coordinate the group during the crisis.

  Todd and Michelle are identified as counselors, and they jointly lead the canoe trip down Devil's Creek.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Alfred → Glazer (Conflict Rival) — Alfred resents Glazer because of bullying and seeks revenge against him.

  Todd learns that Alfred was bullied and only wanted revenge on Sally's boyfriend, Glazer.

• Alfred → Sally (Conflict Antagonistic Acquaintance) — Alfred's bullying-related resentment connects him to Sally before Cropsy's attack.

  Alfred frightens Sally as she exits the shower, and the plot explains that he wanted revenge on Sally's boyfriend, Glazer.

• Todd → Alfred (Alliance Protective Ally) — Todd responds to Alfred's warning and becomes involved in his rescue.

  Alfred alerts Todd after witnessing Cropsy's attack, and Todd pursues Cropsy after Alfred is threatened.

• Cropsy → Glazer (Conflict Murderer And Victim) — Cropsy kills Glazer immediately after murdering Sally.

  When Glazer returns, Cropsy pins him to a tree with a blade through his throat.

• Cropsy → Sally (Conflict Murderer And Victim) — Sally is murdered during Cropsy's nighttime attack on the campers.

  After Glazer leaves to fetch matches, Cropsy kills Sally.

• Cropsy → Karen (Conflict Murderer And Victim) — Karen is one of Cropsy's first direct victims at Stonewater.

  Cropsy suddenly appears at the lake and slashes Karen's throat with pruning shears.

• Cropsy → Alfred (Conflict Mortal Enemy) — Alfred moves from frightened witness to the person who finishes Cropsy.

  Alfred sees Cropsy outside the boys' cabin, later witnesses his attacks, and finally stabs him with shears before using the flamethrower.

• Cropsy → Michelle (Conflict Mortal Enemy) — Michelle opposes Cropsy by protecting survivors and organizing their escape.

  Cropsy terrorizes the camp while Michelle discovers the bodies and leads the survivors back to camp for help.

• Cropsy → Todd (Conflict Arch Enemy) — Todd becomes Cropsy's direct opponent and helps stop his killing spree.

  Cropsy attacks the campers and later confronts Todd in an abandoned mine shaft. Todd strikes Cropsy in the head with an axe during the final fight.

Story Analysis

A scarred caretaker transforms an old camp prank into a cycle of revenge, forcing survivors to confront the legend they helped create.

Plot Progression

1. Fire That Creates the Monster — A cruel prank at Camp Blackfoot causes a fire that severely burns Cropsy. Five years later, his release and first murder establish the revenge-driven threat.
2. A Predator Reaches Stonewater — Cropsy arrives at Stonewater while the counselors and campers establish their relationships. Alfred's behavior and his sighting of Cropsy introduce competing fears and disbelief.
3. The Legend Becomes Real — The campers hear Todd's story of Cropsy during the canoe trip. After Eddy's masked prank, Cropsy kills Karen at the lake and turns the camp legend into immediate reality.
4. Bodies Along the Creek — The survivors search for Karen and the missing canoes, but Cropsy ambushes them. He then murders Sally and Glazer, leaving Alfred as a crucial witness.
5. Fire Answers Fire — Michelle leads the survivors toward help while Todd and Alfred confront Cropsy in the mine shaft. Alfred and Todd attack him, and Alfred finally burns him with the flamethrower.