Burn

Burn is a gripping 2019 American thriller that features Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Josh Hutcherson, and Suki Waterhouse. Directed by Mike Gan, in his directorial debut, the film interweaves themes of obsession, desperation, and redemption into a strikingly fraught narrative that's as much about character exploration as it is suspense.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey executes an enthralling performance as Melinda, a shy and somewhat awkward young woman who works the night shift at a dingy gas station somewhere in the rural United States. She lives a stagnant life, portrayed as an introverted character whose isolation and limited interactions contribute greatly to shaping her vibrantly complicated personality.

Josh Hutcherson, widely recognized for his role in "The Hunger Games" series, portrays Billy, providing a compelling counterpoint to Melinda. Far from the heroic archetype he's often associated with, Billy is a disoriented man barely hanging onto the edges of society, erratic, reckless, and tragic in nature.

Suki Waterhouse plays Sheila, the provocative and outgoing coworker of Melinda. Sheila's contrasting personality and complex relationship with Melinda contribute significantly to the film's narrative tension and establish the basis of many conflicts that ensue.

As a character-driven narrative, the film leverages its cast's performance capabilities to delve deep into the psychological motivations, vulnerabilities, and obsessions of each of its characters. With a script that intensifies as the narrative progresses, you see a spontaneous blend of suspense, tension, and eerie calmness.

A typical night shift for Melinda takes a sharp turn when Billy enters the gas station, armed and desperate. However, what follows isn't your typical heist scenario. The line between villains and victims blurs as Melinda's actions and choices guide the events of the night, with Cobham-Hervey delivering a dramatic play of strength, vulnerability, and intense desperation in her role.

The narrative emphasizes the human conditions of loneliness, desperate desire for connection, and personal traumas that drive the characters to their limits. The film skillfully displays the fragile nature of human relationships and the unpredictability of human reactions when backed into a corner.

The setting of the gas station is as important to the storyline as the characters. Confined and intimate, it serves as an echo chamber amplifying the rising tension and anxiety levels. Weaving this claustrophobic ambiance, the low-light cinematography brings out the relentless suspense and dread throughout the narrative.

The film doesn't shy away from dark themes and atmospheres. Its setting and storyline incorporate elements of tension and fear, often steering into deeply unsettling territories. However, it's enhanced by the strong performances of its main cast, especially Cobham-Hervey, who tackles the complexities of her character with a sophisticated subtlety that keeps you on edge.

Throughout the story, there's an exploration of power dynamics, struggles for control, and how a desperate need for acceptance and love can push one to unpredictable extremes. The performances from Hutcherson and Waterhouse offer gripping counterpoints to Cobham-Hervey's portrayal of Melinda, adding layers of depth and nuance to the unfolding storyline.

Burn sets itself apart from clichéd thrillers with its thorough character development, unexpected story turns, and a keen eye for emotional depth within scenes of high-stakes suspense. It's a film that challenges your perceptions and assumptions, constantly leaving you guessing what will happen next, and who truly holds the power.

While the movie is steeped in dark themes and atmospheres, it's a poignant and affecting look at what extreme loneliness and alienation can drive a person to do. Through tension, suspense, and strikingly human performances, Burn leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.

"Directed by Mike Gan, Burn is a psychological thriller that takes an unflinching look at desperation, manipulation, and the lengths to which one will go for connection and acceptance, presented within a setting and circumstance that are deftly unusual, to say the least. It's a rollercoaster of emotions veiled by suspense, rooting its narrative within’s the characters' sense of humanity.