Burn (2019) is a darkly comedic crime thriller that turns a routine gas station holdup into an exploration of loneliness and desperate human connection. Directed by Mike Gan, this tense 88-minute film stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Melinda, a socially awkward gas station attendant who sees an opportunity for connection when a desperate man (Josh Hutcherson) holds up her workplace at gunpoint.

The film's strength lies in its claustrophobic atmosphere and unexpected character dynamics. What begins as a standard robbery thriller evolves into a twisted psychological dance between captor and captive. Cobham-Hervey delivers a compelling performance as the unstable attendant whose loneliness manifests in dangerous ways, while Hutcherson brings vulnerability to his role as the desperate robber.

Set almost entirely within the confines of a nighttime gas station, Burn creates remarkable tension through its intimate setting and unpredictable character interactions. The film blends dark humor with genuine suspense, exploring themes of social isolation and the lengths people will go to feel seen. While the 5.7 IMDb rating suggests some narrative unevenness, the film offers a fresh take on the crime thriller genre with its character-driven approach and surprising emotional depth. For viewers seeking a tense, character-focused thriller with dark comedic elements, Burn provides an engaging watch that subverts expectations of the genre.