A “harrowing” thriller featuring Matthew McConaughey is keeping critics on the “edge of their seats”.
The Lost Bus, based on a true survival story, takes audiences back to the catastrophic California wildfires of 2018. It tells the tale of a bus driver and a school teacher who find themselves in the midst of the blaze as they attempt to save school children.
The film is set to debut in select cinemas on 19 September before launching on Apple TV+ on 3 October. Starring Matthew McConaughey (famed for his roles in Magic Mike and Interstellar), the film is directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Greengrass, renowned for his work on the Bourne action film series.
Apple TV teases: “A determined father (Matthew McConaughey) risks everything to rescue a dedicated teacher (America Ferrera) and her students from a raging wildfire.”
Ahead of its release, critics are already claiming it leaves them on the “edge of their seats”. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical reviews are flooding in, with critic Mae Abdulbaki writing for Screen Rant: “An occasionally slow film that is elevated by a fantastic cast and excellent, harrowing sequences.”
Benjamin Lee for The Guardian described it as a “gruelling” film, adding: “Even before the wildfire has started to rage in fact-based docudrama The Lost Bus, Paul Greengrass has us on edge.”
Critic Travis Hopson, writing for Punch Dunk Critics, remarked: “The Lost Bus keeps you breathless and on the edge of your seat early on.”
Joey Magidson of Awards Radar echoed these sentiments, stating: “The Lost Bus is an intense and visceral experience from Paul Greengrass.”
First unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has already garnered an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 84% based on 19 reviews.
Previously dubbed a “white knuckle ride” by Apple TV+, The Lost Bus is adapted from Lizzie Johnson’s book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.
The star-studded cast includes Matthew McConaughey as Kevin McKay, and America Ferrera, known for her roles in Barbie and Ugly Betty, as Mary Ludwig.
Other recognisable faces include Yul Vazquez (Captain Phillips) as Ray Martinez and Ashlie Atkinson (The Gilded Age) as Ruby.
Last month, Apple TV+ released the official trailer for The Lost Bus, sparking excitement among fans. One viewer commented: “I genuinely like how SILENT this trailer is compared to others new. This gives chills on its own!”
Another said: “As someone who has ties to the town of Paradise (many members of my family lived there and i grew up not far from the town) I am looking forward to seeing Paul Greengrass’s take on the tragedy. He is one of the best filmmakers out there when it comes to re-telling true life events.”
A third added: “One of the most heartbreaking true story with Matthew as the lead. This will be great and emotional.”
The Lost Bus will premier in selected cinemas on September 19 and Apple TV+ on October 3.
