Bullet Train Explosion Review: Directed by Shinji Higuchi, who is also known for making big action-packed films like Shin Godzilla and Attack on Titan. This time, he takes us on a high-speed train with a ticking time bomb. Also known as Shinkansen Daibakuha, this film is written by Nakagawa Kazuhiro and stars Kusanagi Tsuyoshi in the leading role of the brave conductor. The cast also features Hosoda Kanata, Non, Saitoh Takumi, Ono Machiko, Kaname Jun, Toyoshima Hana and others, all of whom are infusing life into this fast-paced story.
This movie æ–°å¹¹ç·šå¤§çˆ†ç ´ is a remake of a Japanese film from 1975, called The Bullet Train. You don’t have to have seen the old one to get this one, but fans of the original will spot a few nods here and there. In this retelling, the action unfolds on a bullet train teeming with hundreds of passengers. The twist? There is a bomb set on the train, and if it drops below 100 km/h, it will explode. What ensues is a race against time to avert disaster.
Bullet Train Explosion Review
At first, Netflix’s Bullet Train Explosion gave me the feeling that it was going to be just another action movie, as I had watched the original one and I had also watched the Hindi remake of the movie, so I had very few expectations, but I was surprised. It opens with a bang, diving directly into the drama. I loved the way the tension is built up early on, and the plot doesn’t waste time floundering. From the moment the threat is announced, the movie keeps you on edge. The panic inside the train is palpable, and it escalates beautifully from scene to scene.
The way suspense is managed is one of the most effective elements. You feel yourself there, riding along with the passengers, praying that the train doesn’t slow down. The first half moves at a sharp clip, and the background music enhances the sense of fear and urgency. I also loved the fact that the action scenes weren’t the only ones that came with challenges — the film also showed how hard it is to make quick decisions in scenarios like this one, not just from the perspective of the train staff but the officials on the ground trying to prevent loss.
Another thing that stood out for me was the technical detail. There had been scenes of engineers, control centre staff, and the train crew using real jargon and demonstrating how the bullet train system operates. It didn’t feel phoney or contrived. You can sense that the creators must have worked with actual experts, and possibly railway companies, because the movie feels quite authentic.
And don’t even get me started on the visuals. The special effects are solid, not overblown, but good enough to make you suck in your breath. Explosions, camera shakes, and the fast-moving shots of the train made the whole experience intense. The train also makes you feel that it’s a character, that is ever restless and unable to stop.
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The lead character, as played by Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, is the best thing about the film for me. His cool and resolute demeanour rang painfully true. He’s no superhero, just a regular man under pressure doing his job. I was able to relate to his character, and I wanted him to succeed. He wasn’t very vocal, but his deeds were louder.
While I enjoyed most of the movie, there were a few things I didn’t really like. Towards the middle of the film, things started to feel draggy. I get that they were trying to communicate emotional scenes and backstories for the characters, but it just kind of felt like it didn’t flow with this tense plot. I wish they had spread those moments out or made them briefer.
Plus, some of the secondary characters weren’t really given much gravitas. There were these sections where the film attempted to depict how media and politicians react during a crisis, but those sections never quite led anywhere. They felt like they were thrown in there to say something, but never explored all that deeply.
Summing Up
Bullet Train Explosion movie is a solidly made disaster thriller, It has strong acting, a plausible premise, and excitement that motivated me to stick around from beginning to end. It’s not a perfect movie — the middle could have been airier,  and some characters felt underwritten, but it was gratifying to watch. I never once felt bored and would even rewatch it again just for the suspense and tension.
Bullet Train Explosion 2025 is now streaming on Netflix.
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