Movie Review: The Lost Bus

Matthew McConaughey stars as Kevin McCay, a school bus driver forced to choose between saving his family or a bus full of children.

I saw Sinners earlier this year, and well…The Lost Bus is scarier. Here’s why.

Matthew McConaughey stars as Kevin McCay, a school bus driver forced to choose between saving his family and a bus full of children during one of California’s infamous wildfires.

What follows is a fast-paced thriller that had me completely invested from start to finish. Despite its two-hour runtime — which would usually test my attention span — the story moves so quickly that it felt shorter. The tension is constant, and McConaughey’s performance as a man already weighed down by grief and family breakdown adds emotional depth to the chaos around him.

The fire scenes are intense and visceral. Watching the flames spread and trap the characters evoked a sense of fear. Alongside Kevin’s story, we also see the efforts of firefighters, police, and emergency responders as they battle to contain the disaster. These parallel scenes not only heighten the tension but also highlight the bravery and significance of emergency service workers. It’s one of the film’s strongest aspects.

The ending was satisfying but unpredictable enough to keep me guessing until the final moment.

Rating

I would rate The Lost Bus a solid 9 out of 10. There’s a slight slowdown near the end, but overall it’s a gripping, emotional, and well-made film. If you’re in the mood for high-stakes thrillers based on true events, this movie is for you.

The Lost Bus is currently streaming on Apple TV+. It’s based on Lizzie Johnson’s 2021 nonfiction book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.