Does Bullet Train Explosion live up to its explosive title? Dive into our spoiler-free review of Shinji Higuchi’s chaotic, crowd-pleasing remake.
All Aboard the Chaos Express
If you’re craving a disaster movie that doesn’t pretend to reinvent the wheel—just sets it on fire and races it off a cliff—Bullet Train Explosion delivers. Directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla), this remake of the 1975 cult classic sticks to the formula: a speeding Shinkansen train, a bomb threat, and a motley crew of heroes scrambling to save the day. No twists, no subversions—just old-school thrills dialed up to 11.
Plot: Speed Limits and Stakes
The Hayabusa No. 60 bullet train hurtles from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo when terrorists demand 10 billion yen… or else. Catch? The bomb detonates if the train dips below 100km/h. Cue panic, heroics, and a lot of uniformed professionals sweating in control rooms.
The story’s a checklist of disaster tropes: stoic conductor Kazuya (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi), no-nonsense driver Matsumoto (Chika Matsumoto), and a gaggle of passengers—angsty teens, preening politicians, and a viral influencer who regrets livestreaming their doom. It’s corny, but Higuchi knows how to make clichés fun.
Why It Works: Higuchi’s Playbook
Higuchi’s a master of controlled chaos. Remember the jaw-dropping model city destruction in Shin Godzilla? Here, he swaps kaiju for trains, staging tension in two key spaces:
- The Control Room: Engineers use miniature trains to test rescue plans—a nerdy, nail-biting highlight.
- The Rails: High-speed chases, last-second track switches, and a finale that pits human grit against ticking bombs.
The dialogue’s cheesy (“Japan doesn’t negotiate with terrorists!”), but the cast sells it. Kusanagi’s conductor radiates quiet authority, while Matsumoto’s driver balances grit with relatable panic.
Flaws? Sure, But Who Cares?
This isn’t high art. The villains are faceless, the politics simplistic (“terrorism bad, teamwork good”). Subplots, like a teen rebelling against her dad, feel tacked on. But Bullet Train Explosion isn’t trying to win Oscars—it’s here to make you grip your seat.
Legacy vs. Originality
Fans of the 1975 original will spot nods, but Higuchi’s remake stands alone. It’s louder, shinier, and unapologetically melodramatic. Think Speed meets Towering Inferno, with a dash of Japanese pragmatism.
Final Verdict: Unapologetic Popcorn Fun
Bullet Train Explosion won’t change your life, but it’ll kill two hours with style. If you miss the days when disaster flicks prioritized stunts over sermons, this one’s a blast.