Feel the Burn
When two rival spies are ordered to eliminate the enigmatic operative they both once loved, a dangerous mission forces them to confront buried betrayals, unresolved desire, and a shared past that threatens to blur the line between duty and the heart.
Excerpt
In a world of two-screening – the act of dumbing down scripts with repetitions and exposition because it’s assumed the viewer will also be on their phones while watching – it’s nice to have a film that believes in the role of the audience again. Make the audience question, make them put pieces of the puzzle together and then let them know they were right.
Secret Agent Man (and Women)
As exciting as independent film is, it can be a crapshoot when it comes to quality. Having to sift through trust fund passion projects and ego-ridden propaganda films can overshadow the gems. And let it be known, Frank Long’s Feel the Burn is a gem! Made for $20,000 over 7 days, Feel the Burn is an espionage thriller, assassination film and love triangle romance all in one. The story is layered and dense, but the twists and turns to get to the ending all pay off.
We open on two incredibly elegant lady spies as they go to the agency to learn about their new job. Vivian Evergreen – code name “Oshun” after the African goddess (Shannyn Stallworth) – arrives in a souped up Mercedes and impeccable couture. Then we meet LaShay O’Neal – code name “Poison Pen” (LaToya-Patrice Suber) – who is an expert markswoman with a blond asymmetrical bob. The two go to see Jade (Ciel Noir) who gives them the assignment of a lifetime.
First, as the two women see each other, they immediately begin arguing and declaring their hate for one another. The wounds only grow deeper when they see who their target is. Whether it’s “Rudy”, “Earn”, or “Felix” (Stephen Conner), or if it’s a Detroit accent or a British one, the target – who we’ll refer to as Rudy, has captured both women’s hearts. Jad lets the pair know that Rudy must be dealt with because he’s been selling mission information to the enemy and must be stopped. The two women must work together even though both are regretting ever having answered the call.
From here we travel around the world switching between flashbacks and the present day. We see Rudy working with both women individually and falling in love with both despite himself. Secrets are revealed, mistakes are made and hearts are broken. Feel the Burn does a fantastic job of keeping the viewer guessing and feeling satisfied when secrets are revealed.
Spy Craft
Long worked with DP Fabian Hooks to create atmospheres that felt international and spread out. Technically, this is pretty impossible on a budget of $20k, but Long shows great ingenuity throughout the production. Different chirons are displayed to show where we are, but the visuals help sell the scenery beautifully. At one point they’re in a jungle lousy with tall skinny poplar trees, then they’re in a compound at the base of a snow covered mountain. You can even see the vapor as Rudy talks LaShay through her task.
Even though the viewer is likely aware the entire film was shot in Atlanta and Georgia, it was easy to persuade the mind that we really were on the Caribbean island of Saint Louis. It was really refreshing to see so much attention to detail being paid in something on a tight schedule and an even tighter budget. It wasn’t completely perfect, but a lot of flaws can be covered with good intentions and asking the audience to invest.
In a world of two-screening – the act of dumbing down scripts with repetitions and exposition because it’s assumed the viewer will also be on their phones while watching – it’s nice to have a film that believes in the role of the audience again. Make the audience question, make them put pieces of the puzzle together and then let them know they were right. Initially while watching, I was confused about a lot of things that were happening, but as the film went on, everything slotted into place. That’s not just the sign of a well helmed film, but a film that respects and wants to impress its audience.
I highly recommend Feel the Burn. There are laughs, so pretty great spy sequences and the chemistry between the couple is displayed sensually throughout a few tasteful yet sultry lovemaking scenes. I admit, I was a little surprised, few films go all out to include love scenes and it’s kind of a shame because these were done so beautifully. Black bodies under blue lights can be a bit jarring, but Long and Hooks have cracked the code.
For the Culture
I also want to applaud just how Black this film is. And that’s not to say this is a “Black” film. When you think of espionage thrillers, it’s rare to think of not only Black actors, but two main Black women who set the tone for the humor and the heart of the film. There is one white woman, one Black man and 4 Black women at the center of Feel the Burn, but it’s effortless and you wouldn’t really notice how rare the setup is because the production showcases this as being the norm.
But little things like Vivian’s code name being “Oshun” and jokes they make about each other’s names are very culturally pointed. They smoke hookah which I believe is a very humorous nod to Atlanta. There’s even the use of Juvenile’s “Down Bottom” as a war cry and honestly it couldn’t be a more perfect chant for two women on the way to kill the man they love. And even with these nuggets, it doesn’t make the film any less accessible or easy to get into.
Overall, Feel the Burn is a solid release that will keep you happily guessing along the way. Be sure to check it out this fall.
Feel the Burn will stream on Prime Video this winter