Shinkansen Daibakuha (2025)

An action packed, emotionally invested ride

Japan never really shies from the depiction of things as they are as far as I'm concerned, whether it be the mundane or something as high octane as this. One other thing they never fail to do is bring in a level of emotional depth to the story, even if it is as action packed as this one.

A third thing Japanese movies and dramas always do is lean into the technicalities of things. And though the movie hits us with a ton of technical terms, not understanding any of them is okay. I didn't, but all the audience really needs to know is that the people doing the work know what they're doing and they're doing it well, because even with all the abrupt cuts and quick shots, this movie was always about the people on the train.

What we got was a fast paced and thrilling movie that felt grounded in many ways. The huge reveal that is inevitably present in such titles didn't come as a big surprise to me, and though the motive for the crime felt a little incredulous, it did produce it's intended emotional effect.

I thought the actors did an incredible job that complemented an already solid script, neither party needed to carry the other and for the entire runtime I was at the edge of my seat. I tend to have complaints about certain or sometimes all characters not getting enough screentime to complement their sudden growth, but I don't here.

If you are a fan of action thrillers with heart feel, I highly recommend.

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Almost blew me away!

This was a tense and fast-paced ride where train conductor Takaichi, the passengers and railway staff must work together to prevent the catastrophe.

The tension truly kicks in once the passengers find out what is happening. The way panic spreads felt way too believable. It also says a lot about how quickly things can turn ugly in a crisis. People start pointing fingers, paranoia sets in and suddenly it's a full-on witch hunt.

The way politics is shown during the crisis is... painfully realistic. Instead of stepping up, it feels like some people in power are more focused on saving face or pushing their own agendas. You really get that sense of decisions being delayed, emotions being brushed off and the situation being treated more like a PR problem than an actual emergency. It's a frustrating reminder of how, in real life too, how politics can sometimes end up milking a situation instead of solving it.

Visually, the production is top-notch considering Netflix backed it. The cinematography with those wide-angle shots of the train and its surroundings is simply stunning. Everything from the train interiors to the city backdrops was shot beautifully. You can tell a lot of effort went into making it visually engaging.

Acting was easily one of the strongest parts. Everyone brought their A-game and I genuinely couldn’t spot a weak link. If anything, the performances made up for where the story felt a bit thin. Especially when the motive behind the bombing felt a bit weak and under-explained. It didn’t ruin the film for me, but it did soften the impact a bit.

Overall, if you are in the mood for a high-stakes thriller with solid tension and top-tier acting, this one is definitely worth checking out!

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