The Lost Bus

If you have any doubt as to how frightening and deadly a wild fire is, then this film will set you right. No one does kinetic, anxiety-inducing action quite like Paul Greengrass, and in telling this true story of a bus driver and teacher trying to get a bus full of school kids to safety in the midst of the worst wildfire in California's history, Paul Greengrass is certainly in territory made for his signature strengths. It's a shame this has only had a limited cinema release before streaming - it would have looked and sounded truly immersive on the big screen. It's claustrophobic and thrilling enough on television, with the cinematography and sound design really standing out. A good Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, along with the rest of the cast, do a decent job with a screenplay that is sometimes a necessary exposition dump, and whilst the character development isn't all it could be, this is still a thrilling and involving disaster film that doesn't let up for any of its run time.

Matthew McConaughey shines as Kevin, the determined bus driver, infusing the role with stoic grit and subtle vulnerability. America Ferrera, as Mary, the teacher, matches his intensity, her warmth and resolve anchoring the young ensemble cast of students, who bring authenticity and raw emotion to the screen. Their performances elevate the film, capturing the courage and fear of those caught in an unimaginable crisis.

Yet, the film's impact is severely hampered by its abysmal cinematography. The shaky, handheld camera work feels chaotic and disorienting, often resembling amateur footage rather than a polished production. Scenes of the wildfire's terrifying beauty-flames consuming the landscape-are reduced to a blur of erratic zooms and unsteady frames, robbing the visuals of their potential grandeur. This jarring approach distracts from the story's weight, undermining the otherwise immersive production design and haunting soundscape of roaring flames and distant sirens.

The Lost Bus is a tale of resilience that deserves to be seen with clarity, but its unprofessional camera work overshadows its strengths. While the stellar acting and gripping plot make it worth watching, the cinematographic missteps hold it back from greatness.

Rating: 6/10.

As a former resident of Paradise, this caused a surge of emotions. I lived less than a half mile from Ponderosa Elementary and had moved 3 months prior to the fire. Watching this knowing every road, every place that bus went was heartbreaking. Great movie but exceedingly difficult to watch. Absolutely recommend watching cause it's just one of hundreds of stories of people trying to survive a fire that shouldn't have made it over Feather River Canyon. But those winds...damn they drove that fire like Satan himself was leading the charge.

Love Matthew. Lots of other great actors. Strong storyline.

Enjoyed watching this. Except. The filming. The camera won't stay still. Gave me a huge headache trying to watch. I get they try to do this for impact. A smalll amount is ok. But at times I had to look away as it made me dizzy.

The effects with the fire were very good.

I wish they didn't do that style of videography.

I usually steer clear of suspense films - the anxiety often feels overdrawn and exhausting. But "The Lost Bus" was different. It kept me on the edge of my seat, not with empty jump scares, but with a pulse of genuine tension that sparked hair-raising chills and unexpected waves of emotion. What impressed me most was the setting: confined almost entirely to the bus itself, yet never once lapsing into the tedium or claustrophobia that plagues so many single-location thrillers. Instead, the film packs in a startling variety of scenarios - each as gripping and perilous as the last - so that the ride through the flaming inferno feels relentless, immersive, and disturbingly real. I enjoyed the hell outta this movie-my only regret is that I didn't ready up with a bowl of popcorn!