燃烧 (2019)

Some of the choices strain credulity and the biggest name in the piece, Josh Hutcherson, feels miscast, but this is a film that kept me uncertain of what would happen next and affirms Gan as an interesting young filmmaker to watch.

The film is fast and tight and hits all the beats perfectly.

The problem is that writer-director Mike Gan’s first feature, though competently handled in most departments, doesn’t commit enough to any approach to fulfill its potential.

Neither Gan's screenplay nor his direction of the cast quite sells this scenario, but once he introduces some accidental violence, the picture can ride the familiar logic of crime-gone-wrong storytelling.

This movie is frustrating. You never know what Melinda is going to do, and her actions don't make any sense. Also, there's the whole subplot with the biker gang that doesn't get resolved at all. I mean, I guess it kind of does since Billy dies in the fire, but it's never explained what exactly he did to make them so angry in the first place. At one point he says they care more about their motorcycles than anything else, so I'm wondering if maybe he damaged one of their bikes and now they want him to pay for it or something. They show up at the gas station and before she somehow gets them to leave, they say they're going to come back but it only ever shows them driving by again. I think this could've used more time in the oven.

I have seen poor rating all over for this movie, so, I was watching it without any expectations, May be that's the reason I really liked it. I have a taste for little bit weird and strange characters, this made me engage in the movie throughout. It's a good example of low budget experimental film making with limited actors and location. Impressive.

Certain interesting elements, especially when it comes to Tilda Cobham-Hervey's character but it gets longer than it should and the plot stumbles on its own comings and goings. Average regular stuff.