Burn

Burn

Year: 2008

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: Thai

Director: Peter Manus

ThrillerMystery

When Mona's mother suddenly perishes in what appears to be spontaneous human combustion, she meets nurse Ploy, whose own mother suffered the same inexplicable fate. United by grief, the two women investigate the paranormal mystery, aided by an ambitious news reporter determined to uncover the truth behind the bizarre deaths.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Burn (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Burn (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1844–1854

The story spans mid-19th century Queimada, beginning with Walker's arrival in 1844 and the initial uprising. It follows the ensuing period of rebellions, puppet governance, and counter-repression, culminating in the final suppression of the revolt and Walker's death in 1854.

Location

Queimada, Lesser Antilles

Queimada is depicted as a Portuguese colonial island in the Lesser Antilles. It is the site of intense colonial rule and slave labor underpinning the sugar economy, backed by the Antilles Royal Sugar Company. The narrative unfolds within a power struggle involving Portuguese authorities, British interests, and corporate exploitation.

❄️ Caribbean 🗺️ Colony 🏛️ Colonial ⚖️ Exploitation

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

Main Characters – Burn (2008)

Meet the key characters of Burn (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sir William Walker

A British agent provocateur who orchestrates the slave uprising on Queimada to topple the Portuguese regime and install a puppet government aligned with corporate interests. He navigates and manipulates local leaders, including Dolores, to achieve his objectives. His actions set in motion a cycle of revolt, consolidation of power, and eventual downfall as guilt and consequences catch up with him.

🎭 Manipulator 🧭 Strategist

José Dolores

A charismatic enslaved leader who is enticed to spearhead the initial rebellion and later confronts the consequences of the regime’s betrayal. He plays a central role in uniting oppressed groups and becomes a focal point for the island’s struggle for autonomy. Dolores’s arc transitions from uprising to disillusionment as political expediency overrides abolition promises.

🎯 Leader 🗺️ Rebel

Teddy Sanchez

An idealistic but ineffective revolutionary figure who leads the new regime for a time but fails to implement lasting reforms. He becomes a casualty of Walker’s consolidation of power, ultimately ousted and executed in a coup engineered by Walker. Sanchez embodies the tension between aspirational change and realpolitik.

🛡️ Idealist ⚖️ Leader

Portuguese Governor

The colonial authority targeted by Dolores’s early uprising and ultimately assassinated during the initial coup. His death marks a turning point in the island’s struggle for control and signals the volatility of colonial rule. The governor’s fate underscores the fragile balance of power in Queimada.

🏛️ Authority ⚔️ Target

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

Major Themes – Burn (2008)

Explore the central themes of Burn (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Colonial Exploitation

The island is exploited by a colonial power and a sugar company that seeks to control Queimada for profit. The puppet regime installed by Walker serves corporate interests more than local welfare. The narrative consistently contrasts the rulers’ rhetoric with the harsh reality of enslaved labor and coercive governance.

🔥 Slave Rebellion

Dolores leads a powerful slave uprising against the colonial order, challenging the legitimacy of Portuguese rule. The rebellion succeeds in its early phase, prompting a shift in power dynamics on the island. The cycle of revolt continues, signaling persistent resistance to oppression.

🧭 Power and Puppetry

Walker operates as a master manipulator, steering events to install a regime beholden to the Antilles Company. The puppet government promises abolition of slavery to pacify resistance, yet serves broader corporate interests. This theme explores moral ambiguity as coercive power masquerades as liberation.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:25

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Grim Political Thrillers like Burn

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Fatalistic Mysteries with an unsettling vibe like Burn

Investigations into the inexplicable that lead to grim, unavoidable truths.Explore movies similar to Burn, where a mysterious event sparks an investigation that leads to a bleak and unsettling conclusion. If you were captivated by Burn's sense of inevitable tragedy and its exploration of disturbing, inexplicable phenomena, these films offer a comparable journey into the unknown with heavy emotional stakes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves characters doggedly pursuing a mystery, often a death or a paranormal event. As clues are uncovered, they point not toward a solvable crime but toward a larger, more frightening truth—be it a curse, a systemic evil, or a fundamental darkness—that the protagonists are powerless to change.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their core structure of an investigation that leads to a bleak revelation, their heavy, melancholic mood, and their focus on fate and inevitability. They share a steady, deliberate pacing that builds dread toward an emotionally crushing resolution.

Unlock the Full Story of Burn

Don't stop at just watching — explore Burn in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Burn is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Burn Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Burn, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Burn Summary

Burn Timeline

Track the full timeline of Burn with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Burn Timeline

Burn Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Burn that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Burn Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Burn

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Burn: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Burn

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