Burn Out is a 2017 French-Belgian action film directed by Yann Gozlan and written by Yann Gozlan.
Plot
Tony Rodrigues is a motorcycle racer who has aspirations to enter the professional circuit. While not racing, he splits his time between working as a forklift operator during the daytime, and taking care of his son Sofiane whenever his ex-wife Leyla attempts to find employment. During one of his scheduled meetings with Leyla, Tony encounters a group of gypsie gang members led by Jordan exiting Leyla's residence. Tony finds Leyla beaten up and her apartment trashed, learning that Leyla was hiding drugs for Jordan, but the current supply in her possession was stolen by an ex-boyfriend. In an attempt to help her, Tony seeks out Jordan, and with the aid of his childhood friend and current street gang leader, Moussa, Tony meets with Jordan at their local bar in order to negotiate on settling Leyla's debt. Jordan dismisses Tony outright, but his boss, Miguel is more receptive to Tony. In order to pay off Leyla's debt, Tony is given the job of transporting drug packages to designated spots by motorcycle within a two-hour limit for two months. Tony's moonlighting jeopardizes both his daytime job and his tryout for a motorcycle team, which ultimately leads him to failing at both of them. After completing the last delivery, Jordan changes the terms on Tony, forcing him to endlessly work as a drug courier. In retaliation, Tony beats Jordan to death with his motorcycle helmet. Feeling betrayed, Tony enlists Moussa's aid in disposing of Jordan's body, and offers Moussa Miguel's assets in order to eliminate Miguel as a threat. Tony allows himself to be captured by Miguel in order to have Moussa tail him. Complications arise when local traffic create an obstacle for Moussa, and Miguel learns from his gang members that Tony lied to him about Jordan's fate. After a failed escape attempt, Tony is rescued by Moussa and his men, and Miguel is shot to death by Moussa's gang. During the aftermath, Tony works as a warehouse worker, but misses his thrill-seeking. As Leyla and Sofiane go to sleep for the night, Tony goes on a drive in his motorcycle, and instigates a police chase.
Burn out made a total of $1,144,435 at the French box office.
Critical reception
Burn Out has received a 6.1/10 on IMDb Additionally, it has received mostly mixed to average reviews, praising the action but finding it predictable and unoriginal. Charles Bramesco of Vulture liked the "sheer propulsive energy of shots following François as he darts through traffic", but that the film "runs out of fuel" on its familiar premise. David Duprey of That Moment In found it "competently made and adrenaline-stomping", but "lacking in innovation". Similarly, Jonathon Wilson of Ready Steady Cut found it lacking in originality but that it makes up for it in tension and action.
