Burning Sands

Critics Consensus

Burning Sands covers familiar territory, but Trevor Jackson's layered performance and director/co-writer Gerard McMurray's empathetic approach help set it apart.

88%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 26

59%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 315

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Movie Info

Zurich Condoll (Trevor Jackson) is a student at Frederick Douglass University and is proud to be a pledge at a famous African-American fraternity. But anti-hazing rules have driven his Hell Week underground, and the veteran members of his fraternity have degenerated into a pack of vicious, drunken, sadistic louts.

Cast & Crew

Trevor Jackson
Zurich
Alfre Woodard
Professor Hughes
Steve Harris
Dean Richardson
Tosin Cole
Frank
DeRon Horton
Square
Trevante Rhodes
Fernander
Serayah
Angel
Imani Hakim
Rochon
Octavius J. Johnson
Ron
Rotimi
Edwin
Gerard McMurray
Director
Christine Berg
Screenwriter
Gerard McMurray
Screenwriter
Stephanie Allain
Producer
Jason Michael Berman
Producer
Reginald Hudlin
Producer
Mel Jones
Producer
Caroline Connor
Executive Producer
Gerard McMurray
Executive Producer
Isiah Donté Lee
Cinematographer
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Critic Reviews for Burning Sands

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (3)

  • Burning Sands is a well made, thought provoking film filled with subtleties and a compelling story that, like any good film, leaves us with questions, and challenges us to think about the repercussions of our actions.

    August 14, 2017 | Full Review…

    Sergio Mims

    Shadow and Act

  • Burning Sands is a riveting assessment of freedom, compassion and what it means to think critically about the circumstances you may find yourself in.

    April 6, 2017 | Full Review…

    Aramide Tinubu

    Essence

  • You definitely come away from the experience with very mixed feelings about what you've seen and how it was presented, which feels just about right for a story like this one.

    March 10, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Matt Zoller Seitz

    RogerEbert.com

  • There's a lingering pain as the credits roll, a reminder of the misconception that to be a real man, one must endure physical and mental pain inflicted by other men, similarly misunderstanding true masculinity.

    March 10, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Benjamin Lee

    Guardian

  • Viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hazing, Burning Sands dutifully does its job. As hard-hitting sociopolitical commentary, it falls short.

    March 10, 2017 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    John Wadsworth

    Little White Lies

  • There's something powerful even in its predictability-will things go too far? Does the Pope wear a pointy hat?-and in Jackson's fierce, quietly forceful performance.

    March 9, 2017 | Rating: B | Full Review…

    Kevin P. Sullivan

    Entertainment Weekly
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