Podcasts

Episode 17: Meagan Navarro Stalks ‘Burning Bright’

June 10th, 2020 | By Matthew Monagle

It's Briana Evigan versus a tiger in Carlos Brooks's 2010 feature 'Burning Bright.'

In July, 2019, The Matts invited Bloody Disgusting writer Meagan Navarro for the third-ever episode of Certified Forgotten. Back then, the duo was convinced it would be too difficult for their guests to come up with recommendations that met their RottenTomatoes criteria, so they “helpfully” suggested High Moon, a 2019 werewolf movie from director Josh Ridgway. The movie wasn’t great, but they figured they could make it up to Meagan at a later date.

Now, a year later, she has called in her favor.

In this episode of Certified Forgotten, Meagan returns with Burning Bright, a 2010 thriler from director Carlos Brooks. Seemingly ripped from a Hallmark Channel slush pile, Burning Bright follows a young college girl and her autistic brother as they attempt to escape their home in the middle of a hurricane. The only catch? Their evil stepfather – played by the ever-reliable Garret Dillahuntmay have locked them indoors with a man-eating tiger.

Burning Bright might have succumbed to its low-budget and campy premise. But with a standout leading performance by Briana Evigan and an impressive emphasis on practical effects, Burning Bright is truly the exception that proves the rule.

Meagan joins The Matts for a discussion about the future of streaming festivals center on the then-upcoming Chattanooga Film Festival. They then discuss why a lack of B-roll – and a surplus of Dillahunt – is the perfect formula for any low-budget creature feature.

Burning Bright is now available to stream on Tubi and IMDbTV. You can also rent it on Amazon, Google Play, and many other streaming platforms.

Matthew Monagle

Matthew is an Austin-based film critic. You can find his work as sites like Film School Rejects, The Playlist, SlashFilm, and the Austin Chronicle. He is also a member of the Austin Film Critics Association. Matt spends most of his free time doting on his dog and losing games of Slay the Spire.

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