1
3
A High-Speed, High-Stakes Thriller
Shinji Higuchi, the visual mastermind behind Shin Godzilla, returns with Bullet Train Explosion, a gripping disaster-action spectacle that reimagines the 1975 cult classic The Bullet Train for a new generation.
Takaichi, the stoic senior conductor aboard the Hayabusa No. 60, and Rena Nonen (Non) as a rookie train driver thrust into crisis, the film quickly builds tension when a chilling phone call warns of a bomb on board. The catch? If the train drops below 100 miles per hour (161km/h), it detonates. What follows is a high-octane race against time, with the bullet train turned into a ticking time bomb hurtling toward Tokyo.
While the government refuses to negotiate with the anonymous bomber demanding a 100 billion yen ransom, the fate of the passengers - including a disgraced politician (Machiko Ono), an insufferable tech mogul (Jun Kaname), and a panicked group of high schoolers - falls into the hands of the train crew and the determined JR East control team, led by Takumi Saitoh’s Kasagi.
Higuchi’s signature is all over this film: the polished VFX, the grounded sense of chaos, and his admiration for capable, everyday heroes. As in his previous work, Bullet Train Explosion is as much about human resilience and collaboration as it is about spectacle. The film doesn’t shy away from political jabs either. Its portrayal of indecisive politicians and corporate cowardice feels both timely and biting.
The bombers’ ultimate motives might stretch believability, but the emotional investment in the characters, the kinetic pacing, and Higuchi’s flair for cinematic destruction keep the film on track.
Verdict: Bullet Train Explosion is a turbo-charged tribute to disaster cinema. A suspenseful, stylish, and surprisingly heartfelt. Shinji Higuchi proves once again he knows how to detonate drama, not just bombs.
Takaichi, the stoic senior conductor aboard the Hayabusa No. 60, and Rena Nonen (Non) as a rookie train driver thrust into crisis, the film quickly builds tension when a chilling phone call warns of a bomb on board. The catch? If the train drops below 100 miles per hour (161km/h), it detonates. What follows is a high-octane race against time, with the bullet train turned into a ticking time bomb hurtling toward Tokyo.
While the government refuses to negotiate with the anonymous bomber demanding a 100 billion yen ransom, the fate of the passengers - including a disgraced politician (Machiko Ono), an insufferable tech mogul (Jun Kaname), and a panicked group of high schoolers - falls into the hands of the train crew and the determined JR East control team, led by Takumi Saitoh’s Kasagi.
Higuchi’s signature is all over this film: the polished VFX, the grounded sense of chaos, and his admiration for capable, everyday heroes. As in his previous work, Bullet Train Explosion is as much about human resilience and collaboration as it is about spectacle. The film doesn’t shy away from political jabs either. Its portrayal of indecisive politicians and corporate cowardice feels both timely and biting.
The bombers’ ultimate motives might stretch believability, but the emotional investment in the characters, the kinetic pacing, and Higuchi’s flair for cinematic destruction keep the film on track.
Verdict: Bullet Train Explosion is a turbo-charged tribute to disaster cinema. A suspenseful, stylish, and surprisingly heartfelt. Shinji Higuchi proves once again he knows how to detonate drama, not just bombs.
Was this review helpful to you?
