Burn

Melinda works the night shift at a lonely roadside gas station, where her timid nature leaves her invisible next to the bolder, outgoing Sheila. When Billy, a desperate man looking for fast cash, bursts in to rob the place, Melinda reacts in an unexpected way. Rather than retreating, she reaches toward him, seeking connection and recognition in the chaos. What begins as a typical hold-up becomes a tense, intimate confrontation that exposes desire, resentment, and blurred boundaries. The film stays close to the small cast and confined setting, watching tension build as choices pile up and consequences loom, without giving away how the situation resolves.

Burn was directed by Mike Gan and released in 2019. It features Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Melinda and Josh Hutcherson as Billy, with Suki Waterhouse, Shiloh Fernandez, and Harry Shum Jr. in supporting parts, unfolding mostly in a single, claustrophobic location.

The film had a limited theatrical presence and modest box office reach, finding most of its audience through on-demand and streaming windows rather than wide release or blockbuster returns.

It attracted attention for its concentrated, tense set piece and for Cobham-Hervey's unsettling, finely tuned portrayal. Conversations around the film often focus on workplace invisibility and the way fantasy and frustration can tip into violence, and it has resonated with viewers who favor compact, character-driven crime stories over sprawling action.

Critical reaction landed in the middle range, with many reviewers praising the performances and the film's sustained mood while pointing to occasional pacing issues and murky character motives. Viewers and critics have noted the movie's interest in loneliness, the hunger for being seen, and how small resentments can escalate into dangerous decisions.