Watch Burn

Burn is a gripping thriller film directed by Mike Gan and released in 2019. The movie stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey as the lead protagonist, Melinda, who works as a waitress in a diner owned by her uncle. Josh Hutcherson plays the character of Billy, Melinda's drug-addicted boyfriend, while Suki Waterhouse portrays the role of Sheila, a troubled young woman who enters the diner with a gun and holds everyone captive.

The film is set entirely in a rundown desert diner in the middle of nowhere, creating a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere throughout. The storyline follows the events of a single night that changes the lives of everyone involved in the hostage situation. The movie opens with Melinda closing the diner and waiting for Billy to pick her up. However, before Billy arrives, Sheila walks in with a gun and forces everyone inside to comply with her demands.

As the hostages struggle to deal with their confinement, we get to see the complex relationships between the characters, as they try to navigate their way through the night. The tension is palpable, as we see the captives' lives intersect and intertwine in unexpected ways. The movie explores themes of grief, addiction, innocence, and culpability.

One of the most intriguing characters in the movie is Melinda. She is a young woman dealing with the pain of her past while trying to hold onto the hope of her future. Throughout the movie, we see Melinda's transformation from a quiet and submissive waitress to a formidable figure who takes matters into her own hands to try and end the crisis. Tilda Cobham-Hervey's performance as Melinda is striking, and she delivers an unforgettable portrayal of a woman who refuses to be a victim.

Another standout performance in the movie comes from Suki Waterhouse. Her character, Sheila, is deeply troubled, and her motivations behind the hostage situation are slowly revealed as the plot unfolds. Waterhouse gives a nuanced and powerful performance that makes Sheila a fascinating character to watch.

Josh Hutcherson's character, Billy, is the weakest link in the movie, and his acting skills fail to make the audience root for him. The movie tries to showcase the character's inner turmoil, but Hutcherson's performance falls flat, and his character becomes a mere plot device.

One of the film's biggest strengths is its cinematography. The movie's desert setting and the diner's dimly lit interior create a bleak and ominous atmosphere that adds to the tension. The camera work is tight and claustrophobic, making the audience feel as though they are part of the hostage situation. The movie also uses slow-motion action sequences and jump cuts to great effect, further enhancing the tension and suspense.

The film's soundtrack is excellent, and the music adds to the overall atmosphere of the movie. The sound design is also impressive, with gunshots and screams sounding realistic and impactful.

In conclusion, Burn is a thought-provoking and tense thriller that grips the audience from start to finish. The standout performances from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Suki Waterhouse, along with the movie's stark cinematography, make for a memorable experience. Despite some shortcomings in the storyline, Burn still manages to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and leaves a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

Burn is a 2019 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 50.