Bullet Train Explosion

If Netflix has its flaws, sometimes it allows us to find real gems. I discovered one recently, a Japanese action thriller, part survival action flick, part crime fiction. It's titled Bullet Train Explosion in English. A bit of a blunt title, but while it does what it says on the tin, it has way more soul and character than any Hollywood equivalent. In fact, there is no real Hollywood equivalent to it. Yes, the premisse is similar to Speed: a mysterious terrorist places bombs on the Shinkansen, bombs that will explode if the train goes below100KM/hour. The terrorist also demands a ridiculous amont of money to defuse the bomb. But instead of one cliché hero, you have an ensemble cast playing men and women of different walks of life, all doing their jobs in a time of crisis. It's an action movie with a soul, as I said above. And with all the cultural flavours and colours of Japan. In spite of its sometimes far fetched premisse and execution, it feels real. The film is a sequel to a more obscure film from the 1975, The Bullet Train, which from what I understand has a cult following in Japan. You don't need to have seen it to enjoy its sequel. Of course, I like every movie when a train is featured (extensively or not), but this one truly is something worth watching.