The Lost Bus Review

During one of the worst wildfires in California history, a school bus driver volunteers to collect the last remaining students and their teacher from an elementary school inside the evacuation zone. After which he must battle extreme traffic, crazed local residents, and the fire itself to get them all to safety.

Paul Greengrass’ latest brings yet another harrowing true story to life. He begins in much the same way as any good disaster movie; by introducing us to the hero, or at least one of the heroes involved. It’s fair to say that Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey) was not having the best time of it when disaster struck in 2018, and the movie goes well out of its way to show us that. In fact, if all that McKay goes through prior to the fire actually happened as it is depicted, then he was having a truly awful time. Making it seem a little cruel, if I’m honest, to list off all that was wrong in this man’s life. Everyone loves an underdog, sure. But the first hour can actually be a bit of drag because of it. That said, McConaughey delivers yet another fantastic performance, showing McKay to be just a regular guy. I’ve heard some people say that they found the character to be unlikeable, at least in the first hour, but I think he’s rather relatable. A man who’s struggling under the weight of his own problems. A mere mortal like the rest of us, but one who did something amazing.

And while McKay struggles through a particularly tough day, Greengrass establishes why the ‘Camp Fire’ – as it has come to be known – became such a massive disaster. Yul Vazquez delivers another of the movie’s fantastic performances as the Fire Chief responsible for bringing this nightmare under control. Just watching the man attempt to handle all of the questions and updates with which he was bombarded can be overwhelming. So I can only imagine what is was like to actually do it. Then there’s the fire, itself! Recreated in petrifying detail using some incredible visual effects. That and the fact the movie was filmed in New Mexico, close to the scene of a recent wildfire, only makes things seem all the more real. Unsurprisingly, it’s all rather terrifying, and the United 93 director isn’t afraid to put the audience right in the middle of it all. So that by the time McKay has reached the school, you are already on the edge of your seat, much like the man himself.

As with any good disaster movie, that sense of peril is always there. Even in the slower moments – when the movie falls back on some fairly standard disaster movie tropes – you can sense it rising. As if the fire is always hot on their heels – pardon the pun. Which is why in many ways The Lost Bus is more like a chase movie. With everyone attempting to outrun the danger that is essentially pursuing them. Except that the danger is all around, making that bus feel like an island. A rather large, cumbersome, mildly claustrophobic island. It’s actually quite amazing that McKay was able to drive it out of there! Still, it’s the one safe place in this crazy inferno. So much so that every time someone is forced to get off, the tension goes through the roof.

America Ferrera plays Mary Ludwig, the teacher – and the other hero in this story – who has the rather unenviable task of keeping 22 kids calm whilst trying to hide her own fears – something Ferrera portrays brilliantly. She and McConaughey are also excellent together. They really nail the odd relationship; two people who don’t know each other but are forced to work together. And as for what they see on their way out of this nightmare, well, you just don’t know what to expect. Has a traffic jam ever been so frightening? I don’t know. But Greengrass also makes no attempt to keep us apprised of the time. So it’s all very disorientating. Even the darkness can throw you off. Especially when you cut to those eagerly awaiting the arrival of the lost bus at an assembly area, and it’s broad daylight.