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Flashburn

Name: Flashburn
Director: Giorgio Serafini
Released: 2017
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

5.0/10

Fair

2017

TV-14

Director

Giorgio Serafini

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Flashburn is a genre-driven science fiction thriller that emphasizes plot mechanics over social representation. The narrative centers on a single male protagonist navigating a medical crisis, keeping the focus narrow and traditional. The film relies on well-known clichés, such as the accidental creator and the amnesiac hero, to maintain suspense. These elements serve the thriller’s tension rather than offering a platform for diverse lived experiences or perspectives that reflect multiple aspects of identity. Ultimately, the work functions as a typical survivalist tale. It lacks the intentionality needed to challenge social hierarchies or offer meaningful representation across gender, race, or identity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Flashburn have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-cisgender identities. The storyline focuses solely on biological survival and medical thriller elements.

How does Flashburn portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a male protagonist named Wes Nolan, adhering to a traditional hero's journey. Female characters do not play a significant role in driving the scientific or tactical plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Flashburn?

Limited

Although the Ebola outbreak suggests a global setting, there is no specific mention of the racial makeup of the cast. There is no indication of a predominantly non-white cast.

How does Flashburn represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film employs classic sci-fi clichés related to scientific responsibility. It follows conventional Western thriller structures without challenging institutions through diverse cultural perspectives.

Does Flashburn include disability representation?

Limited

Amnesia serves as a key plot driver for the main character. However, it functions more as a mystery device rather than a nuanced exploration of cognitive disabilities.

Present on Screen

Uses amnesia effectively to drive the central mystery.
Explores themes of scientific responsibility and the consequences of biological experimentation.

Limited or Absent

Needs more diverse character representation across gender, race, and LGBTQ+ identities.
Relies on traditional hero archetypes rather than subverting established gender or social hierarchies.
Uses disability primarily as a plot device rather than a nuanced character study.

Official Synopsis

Wes Nolan wakes up in an abandoned warehouse with a case of amnesia. He has been kidnapped by someone named "Lazarus" who has him held captive in order to get the cure for an Ebola outbreak. Wes was a virologist and microbiologist who was working to engineer a bacteria protein carrier to attack the Ebola virus before it could destroy human cells. Instead of destroying the Ebola, however, Wes' protein mutated the virus into something much more potent. Now Wes must try to regain his memory and try to find the cure.

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