In his The Lost Bus film review, Kevin Bourne calls Paul Greengrass’ latest “one big ball of anxiety, wrapped in a great story.”
There are many standout films at the Toronto International Film Festival, but my top pick throughout the first five days of the festival is the survival thriller The Lost Bus starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera. Based on actual events, the film is set in November 2018 in northern California and recounts the deadliest fire in California history. Surrounded by an inferno, school bus driver, Kevin McKay (McConaughey), is tasked with defying the odds and bringing 22 school children and their teacher, Mary Ludwig (Ferrera), to safety.
With Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass (United 93) at the helm, McConaughey and Ferrera starring, and Jamie Lee Curtis as producer, this film has all the makings of an award-worthy film. McConaughey once again delivers a nomination-worthy performance as he exudes desperation as the flames and stakes rise. Meanwhile, Ferrera matches his energy, delivering a memorable performance in her own right. Together, they are simply magical on screen.
Of course, what would a film about a wildfire be without CGI? The effects give viewers a firsthand idea of what it’s like to be inside a wildfire. The absolute terror of a the fires is contrasted with the lush landscapes of northern California which create a sense of beauty, grandeur, and calm before the impending doom.
This film is very timely and may be triggering to some given the recent fires in Los Angeles and New Mexico. It was shot in Ruidoso, New Mexico in April 2024, two months before the area, including 17,569 acres, would be burned in the South Fork Fire.
In a time when Hollywood leans heavily on existing franchises and intellectual property to get audiences in seats and boost profits, The Lost Bus is refreshing as a film driven by compelling storytelling. When we think about thrillers, we often think about a deceptive, cerebral, or menacing foe. Maybe a super criminal with a troubled past. In this film, the antagonist isn’t a human being; it’s an out of control fire that threatens the lives of thousands of people. The film almost presents the fires as a character with point of view shots of the blaze menacingly racing towards the busload of potential victims. Meanwhile, the heroes in this film don’t wear capes. They don’t have superpowers. They are normal people like you and I, which is why this story is even more powerful. Behind the thrills is a story about determination, overcoming the odds, and the power of the human spirit. You know, the stuff Hollywood was built on.
Overall, from beginning to end, The Lost Bus is one big ball of anxiety, wrapped in a great story, that will have your pulse racing.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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