LOST BUS, THE

(director/writer: Paul Greengrass; screenwriters: Brad Ingelsby, based on the book by Lizzie Johnson “Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire”; cinematographer: Pål Ulvik Rokseth; editors: William Goldenberg, Paul Rubell, Peter M. Dudgeon; music: Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders; cast: Matthew McConaughey (Kevin McKay), America Ferrera (Mary Ludwig), Yul Vázquez (Chief Martinez), Ashlie Atkinson (Ruby Bishop, bus dispatcher), Spencer Watson (Elliot Hopkins), Levi McConaughey (Shaun, the director’s son), Kay McCabe McConaughey (Sherry, the director’s mother); Runtime: 129; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Jason Blum, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gregory Goodman, Brad Ingelsby; Apple Original Films; 2025)

“Works as an entertaining visual treat.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

English director and writer Paul Greengrass (“News of the World”/”22 July”) bases his thrill-packed action film on the 2018 Camp Fire, which occurred November 8th, and was known as the deadliest wildfire in California history (destroyed 13,500 homes and killed 85). It’s co-written with Brad Ingelsby and based on Lizzie Johnson’s book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire. The haunting tale is an inspiring survival story made as a factual docudrama. Technically it’s really fine, but the screenplay is too shaky in its hand-held camera footage and is too convoluted to fully follow what’s happening.

We follow from early morning in Paradise, California an unsafe school bus, needing repairs after missing a maintenance appointment, with 22 screaming kids aboard, a frightened but caring elementary school teacher (America Ferrera) and a determined driver, Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey), who is trying to handle a mountain road in flames from an oil tank explosion caused by a fire due to the neglect of proper maintenance by PG&E–the power company.

The bus driver is driven to get the bus safely home despite the dire situation.

The harrowing ride went on for five-hours. In the end everyone was saved by the heroic driver, a flawed person who’s divorced and worries about his 15-year-old son (Levi McConaughey, his real son) who was supposed to be on the bus but called in sick. He’s also anxious about caring for his elderly ailing mother (Kay McCabe McConaughey, his real mom).

The reenactment film is tense throughout, but was more like a video game experience than a film. Nevertheless it works as an entertaining visual treat.


It played at the Toronto Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 9/8/2025  GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com