Burn (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Burn is a 2019 thriller directed by Mike Gan, starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Melinda, Josh Hutcherson and Winter-Lee Holland. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes and earned $25,373 worldwide. Critics gave it 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Mike Gan
- Genre
- Thriller
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Momentum Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Burn About?
The premise of Burn without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Melinda, a quiet and frustrated gas station attendant, feels overshadowed by her coworker. Her life takes a dramatic turn when Billy, a desperate man holding up the station, arrives. Seeing a chance to escape her mundane existence, Melinda unexpectedly forms a volatile and intense connection with the hostage-taking robber, pushing boundaries and risking everything in the process.
Burn Themes & Keywords
· 17 tags- female on male rape
- gas
- gas station
- hostage
- gun
- fire
- police
- robbery
- violence
- death
- deception
- clerk
+5 more Show fewer
- female protagonist
- one word title
- survival
- sex in a locker room
- predator turns victim
Burn Cast & Characters
Tilda Cobham-Hervey leads the cast as Melinda, with Josh Hutcherson as Billy and Winter-Lee Holland as Dolores. Directed by Mike Gan; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Mike Gan
- Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Melinda
-
Josh Hutcherson as Billy - Winter-Lee Holland as Dolores
-
Suki Waterhouse as Sheila
Also Starring in Burn
· 10 more- Shiloh Fernandez Perry
- John D. Hickman Bruce
- Harry Shum Jr. Officer Liu
- Wayne Pyle Fred
- Rob Figueroa Philip
- Steve Garfanti Guy
- Jim Devoti
- Angel Valle Jr. Cory
- Keith Leonard Daryl
- Angel Valle
More from Mike Gan
One more film directed by Mike Gan: School Spirit.
Burn Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Burn 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).
Burn Echo Score Breakdown
Burn presents a blend of commendable visual craftsmanship and engaging performances tempered by uneven narrative execution. Critics and users alike praise its crisp cinematography and spirited lead portrayal while pointing out occasional pacing lulls and plot inconsistencies. The film’s low-budget design and experimental tone contribute to its distinct indie identity, yet some viewers found character arcs underdeveloped and structure meandering. On balance, Burn delivers enough intrigue and stylistic flair to satisfy genre enthusiasts despite its mixed coherence and modest ambition.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 72
In terms of art and craft, Burn frequently employs crisp, vivid cinematography that stands out against its minimal settings. The editing maintains a generally brisk tempo, although some viewers noted structural flatness in the second half. Direction receives mixed assessments: moments of confident visual staging contrast with occasional narrative strain. Overall, the film’s visual design and technical framing deliver an effective indie aesthetic despite uneven directorial choices.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character depth and emotion, the lead performance consistently earns praise for its nuanced portrayal of an edge-dwelling protagonist. Supporting roles, however, are often described as underwritten, leading to one-dimensional interactions. While some viewers appreciated the strange, engaging personalities, others found the chemistry uneven and emotional stakes diffuse. Consequently, character engagement is both a highlight in the central role and a limitation in peripheral development.
- Story & Flow 62
In terms of story and flow, Burn offers inventive twists on a confined setting but struggles with plot cohesion. Early scenes sustain tension and engagement, yet narrative momentum falters in the latter half, resulting in perceived pacing irregularities. Critics pointed to unfulfilled potential and structural unevenness, while fans of experimental storytelling appreciated its unpredictability. The net impression is a moderately engaging storyline tempered by occasional meandering and familiar crime tropes.
- Sensory Experience 75
When it comes to the sensory experience, the film benefits from an original score that punctuates key moments with subtle intensity. Sound design remains functional, supporting the suspense without distracting flourishes. Visually, the movie’s restrained color palette and crisp framing create a cohesive indie atmosphere. While not overwhelmingly immersive, these elements collectively enhance the viewing experience, offering a pleasing balance of auditory and visual clarity.
- Rewatch Factor 60
In terms of rewatch value, Burn provides a distinctive indie tone that may attract viewers on subsequent viewings for its visual style and central performance. Some audiences found its tight runtime and unusual twists engaging enough to revisit, while others considered its narrative unevenness and underdeveloped subplots to limit lasting appeal. Overall, the film holds moderate replay potential for enthusiasts of low-budget experimentation but lacks widespread repeat allure.
-
IMDb 5.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 50 Metascore
User score 5.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.4 /5
17 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Burn Plot Summary
What happens in Burn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the year 1844, the British Admiralty embarks on a covert mission by dispatching Sir William Walker, an agent provocateur, to the island of Queimada—a prosperous Portuguese colony located in the Lesser Antilles. This operation, initiated by the British government, aims to facilitate the economic exploitation of the island by the Antilles Royal Sugar Company. Tasked with instigating a rebellion among the enslaved Africans against their Portuguese overlords, Walker’s ultimate goal is to replace the existing regime with a government that is more compliant and favorable to the interests of white planters.
Full summary
The whole story of Burn, scene by scene
Burn Box Office
Burn grossed $25,373 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$25.4K
- International
- $25.4K
Burn Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Burn.
How Well Do You Know Burn?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year does the film 'Burn' take place?
Cars in Burn
9 cars on screen, including the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit and the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan.
-
2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit Minor role -
1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Minor role -
2001 Ford F-150 Minor role -
Harley-Davidson FLTRX Road Glide Minor role
Burn Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Sukhtan” and “Plume”.
- Also known as
-
- Sukhtan
- Plume
- BURN バーン
- Burn (Noche Infernal)
- Nuit d'enfer
- 버닝
- Ogień
- Опекотине
- Изгаряне
- שרוף
- Игра с огнем
- Burn - Una notte d'inferno
+12 more Show fewer
- Noche infernal
- Гра з вогнем
- 燃烧
- Burn - Hell of a Night
- 深夜加油站遇見抓狂衰事
- Cehennem Gecesi
- Uma Noite Infernal
- เบิร์น เอา มัน ไป เผา
- Lángoló kút
- Noční plameny
- Arde!
- BURN/バーン
Seen Burn?
Movies Like Burn
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Burning Lies, Torched and Burning Days.
Burn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Burn, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Burn?
Burn runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Burn released?
Burn was released on August 23, 2019.
Who directed Burn?
Burn was directed by Mike Gan.
More films by Mike Gan Who is in the cast of Burn?
Burn stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Melinda, Josh Hutcherson as Billy and Winter-Lee Holland as Dolores, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Burn make at the box office?
Burn grossed $25,373 worldwide.
How is Burn rated?
Burn has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 50 on Metacritic, 60% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Burn have a post-credit scene?
No. Burn has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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