Red is a weathered Burner cruising the open desert in a gleaming 1980 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am, living under a regime where gasoline is forbidden for civilians. In 2015, the US government bans public fuel distribution, reserving it for politicians, the military, and law enforcement, and the Department of Vehicle Control (DVC) keeps a tight leash on anyone who dares to drive. The story centers on Red, a man who keeps finding ways to bend the law, while his teenage son Cameron questions his choices and the danger they invite. The world around them is rigid, surveilled, and hungry for control, and Red’s world of old speed and raw freedom clashes with a system that treats driving like a high-stakes rebellion.
Amid the tension, a Burner fuels a plan to shuttle Senator Curtis to a conference aimed at persuading lawmakers to legalize civilian car use once more. But the mission is derailed when the DVC, led by McVain, intercepts the convoy. Dolan, a quiet sociopath under McVain’s command, devastates the attempt with a grenade launcher, and Shana, portrayed by Shana, expressions her horror at the brutality and McVain’s blatant disregard for human life. To rekindle his boy’s fascination with machines, Red takes Cameron for a ride, and the pair reconnect with Red’s old ally Indy, a Burner who pilots a Plymouth Barracuda. The desert becomes a proving ground as they speed along, testing their machines and their nerve, while Cameron grows closer to Indy's bold daughter, Jill. Jill is fearless and playful, teaching Cameron how to handle her dune buggy and tossing him into a world of risk and flirtation that he’s only just beginning to explore.
The excitement erupts into chaos when the DVC ambush lands with brutal precision. An over-eager squad member fires too soon, forcing Red, Indy, and the others into a desperate breakout. In the aftermath, Cameron and Jill steal a moment to slip away to a barn to be together, but McVain’s people catch them, roughing up Cameron and assaulting Jill before hauling her off. Cameron drags himself home with a limp, recounting the horror to Red and Indy, who resolve to smash the DVC camp and rescue Jill by upgrading their cars and launching a raid. Meanwhile, Shana, moved by Jill’s treatment, frees her, and the two escape as the rest of the DVC’s forces are overwhelmed by the burners in a high-speed reckoning.
The escapade shifts toward a new plan: the next day, Cameron and Jill decide to drive the senator themselves in Red’s Firebird, turning the mission into a direct challenge to the authority that polices the open road. As Red begins to build a closer bond with Shana, the story tracks a growing coalition of rebels who cling to their love of machines and the thrill of the ride, while a society-wide rule aims to strip away mobility and choice. In the end, the film threads together danger, freedom, and a shared passion for speed, painting a portrait of a world where gasoline represents more than fuel—it represents autonomy, rebellion, and the unyielding desire to move.
