At Camp Blackfoot, five young campers plot to scare their caretaker, Cropsy. As they venture to his cabin with a box, one boy sneaks inside, sets a fire, and soon a horrifying incident unfolds. Cropsy awakens to a creepy skull with lit candles in its eye sockets, leading to a panic that ignites a devastating fire, causing him to flee, his body engulfed in flames, eventually plunging into a lake.
Fast forward to one week later, at St. Catherine's hospital, an intern witnesses a distressing scene when Cropsy, now gravely injured and disfigured from the fire, grabs an orderly in an act of sheer terror. Five years pass, and Cropsy returns to the city, shrouded in darkness, attempting to hide his burnt and scarred face. His sinister intentions come to light when a terrified prostitute attempts to escape him but meets a gruesome fate at his hands.
Meanwhile, at Camp Stonewater, a mixture of fun and chaos unfolds among the campers. Karen, a camper, shares her feelings about Eddy with her counselor Michelle, revealing her apprehensions toward his tough demeanor. The atmosphere turns sinister when Sally discovers she’s not alone in the shower, leading to a series of misunderstandings where Alfred becomes a target of bullying.
As the campers enjoy their activities, Cropsy keeps a watchful eye, lurking within the shadows and plotting revenge. One fateful evening, on the lake, Todd, Glazer, and others engage in prank wars while others sneak off for a more intimate rendezvous. The storyline thickens as Karen encounters horrific danger from Cropsy, who attacks her mercilessly.
The following day, tension arises with missing canoes and panic ensues as the head counselor decides a raft ride is necessary to restore order. As the group paddles upstream, they stumble upon a grisly surprise that sends chills down their spines—Cropsy emerges, unleashing carnage with his garden shears, claiming multiple victims in a shocking and violent spree.
Unbeknownst to them, Glazer and Sally retreat to a remote corner of the woods, only to find themselves next on Cropsy's terrifying list. Alfred, who witnessed everything, tries to alert Todd, but the horror doesn't stop there. As Alfred evades Cropsy, Todd takes it upon himself to rescue him, armed with an ax and desperate to confront the shadowy figure that has instilled fear in their lives.
The campers’ attempts to seek help culminate in a chase through the woods, leading Todd and Alfred to an abandoned copper mine where the final showdown occurs. With a flick of fate, the past collides with the present as Todd realizes his connection to the events leading to Cropsy's wrath. In an intense confrontation, the stakes are raised as the flames of revenge ignite. The story concludes with a somber reflection on the legend of Cropsy as campers gather around a fire, sharing the chilling tale of survival and horror.
