Movies

Bullet Train Explosion: The Sequel to a Japanese Classic with Global Appeal

BBG News

Trains have been a staple in cinema since the dawn of film, with the Lumière brothers’ “The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station” (1896) being one of the earliest movies ever made and commercially screened. From the silent war film “The General” to Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful “Strangers on a Train” and the romantic “Before Sunrise”, trains have driven stories across genres and eras. Shinji Higuchi, a Japanese filmmaker, has been fascinated with trains on screen since at least 1975, when he watched “The Bullet Train” as a fourth grader. Half a century later, it remains one of his favorite films, and he has directed its sequel – the action thriller “Bullet Train Explosion“, releasing on Netflix on April 23rd.

Shinji remembers being deeply moved by how regular employees of the Japanese National Railway were portrayed in the movie “The Bullet Train”. In his notes for the press, he expresses, “I found it captivating to see individuals with a profound sense of responsibility to address the extraordinary circumstances, putting their all into performing their tasks.

In my own words, I ensured that the original tale was given its rightful respect while crafting the sequel, as I discussed with TIME via a translator.

Shinji admits he struggled greatly with deciding on the right way to present the topics featured in the movie. It was a challenging endeavor for him, one that required his utmost effort.

Let’s explore and analyze the profound cinematic foundations of the film “Bullet Train Explosion”, and how Shinji ingeniously introduced one of cinema’s initial themes to the contemporary action movie genre.

Bullet Train Explosion’s direct inspiration

The action-packed movie “Bullet Train Explosion” by Netflix serves as a follow-up to the 1975 film “The Bullet Train.” This earlier production was helmed by Junya Sato and boasted stars like Ken Takakura, Sonny Chiba, and Ken Utsui. The original story revolves around Hikari 109, an initial-generation bullet train journeying from Tokyo to Hakata at high speed. Not long after the train sets off, the head of railway security receives word that a bomb is on board. If the train falls below 80 kilometers per hour (approximately 50mph), it will detonate. As the 1,500 passengers are kept safe by the railway staff and police, a ransom of $5 million is demanded.

In “Bullet Train Explosion,” the storyline largely mirrors that of “The Bullet Train,” but with an increase in intensity and broader scope. Set in 2025, this sequel introduces a bullet train that maintains a minimum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), capable of reaching a maximum speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). The ransom demand skyrockets to an astounding 100 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $710,360,000. This ransomer appeals to the public through social media platforms, reflecting a society where information travels faster than the swiftest trains. Unlike its 1975 predecessor, which primarily focused on the overall journey, this version delves deeper into the characters of its passengers. These include a politician mired in scandal (Machiko Ono), a YouTube sensation (Jun Kaname), and a group of teenage schoolchildren. Among the staff, Kazuya Takaichi (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi) serves as a heroic figure, embodying the spirit of teamwork in a story about efficiency.

In Bullet Train Explosion, Shinji’s love for the original film and its portrayal of Japanese railway culture is evident. This film deviates from the typical structure of a Hollywood action movie by telling a story about teamwork in Japan instead. It depicts the advantages of being skilled at one’s job, much like how Spider-Man 2 could have been if Peter Parker wasn’t the only one saving a runaway train but was assisted by an optimistic conductor, a drowsy mechanic, and dedicated support from the Chicago Transit Authority team. Essentially, the entire film revolves around this collaborative effort.

In “Bullet Train Explosion,” Shinji strives to enhance the technical accuracy within the franchise, expressing his concern in the movie’s press notes about the original film’s portrayal of trains. He explains, “As a fan of both films and railways, I was disheartened by this feedback.” Determined to avoid similar criticism for this project, he sought advice from experts on bullet train designs and conducted extensive research into the actual workings of these high-speed trains.

In contrast to the initial movie, the Netflix adaptation featured collaboration with a significant Japanese railway corporation, East Japan Railway Company (JR East). As Shinji elaborates in the press materials, the JR East staff were familiar with the original film and wished to exhibit authentic bullet trains to global audiences. This sentiment aligned perfectly with our aim to depict actual bullet trains on screen.

In situations where capturing scenes inside an actual bullet train wasn’t feasible, Shinji opted to use large-scale miniature models instead. He explained to TIME, “As our budget allowed, we made the models as big as possible. These model trains could fit on perhaps two tables. Then, we would destroy these models.

How is Bullet Train Explosion connected to Speed?

If the basic concept of “Bullet Train” and “Bullet Train Explosion” seems reminiscent to you, it’s likely because you’ve watched “Speed,” the iconic 1994 Hollywood action movie starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. In this film, a Los Angeles bus is taken hostage by a bomb-wielding villain who vows to detonate the device if the speed of the bus falls below 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) or if a ransom of $3.7 million isn’t paid. The movie, produced by 20th Century Fox, was one of the top-earning films of 1994 and had a sequel released in 1997.

It’s quite surprising, but there is no direct link between the 1975 movie “The Bullet Train” and the 1994 film “Speed”. In fact, it was a different American film from 1985 called “The Runaway Train” that inspired the concept for “Speed”. This idea was suggested to screenwriter Graham Yost by his father, Elwy Yost, a popular Canadian TV personality who hosted TVOntario’s “Saturday Night at the Movies” between 1974 and 1999. The movie “The Runaway Train”, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, features Jon Voight and Eric Roberts as prisoners on a runaway train speeding through the frozen Alaskan wilderness without any brakes.

The story becomes even more intriguing given that the film “Runaway Train” was adapted from an original screenplay penned by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, renowned for his groundbreaking works like “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai.” In the 1960s, Kurosawa collaborated with Hideo Oguni and Ryūzō Kikushima to create a script about a runaway train. Kurosawa intended to direct this international production in New York towards the end of 1966, but unfortunately, filming was abruptly halted at the last minute due to financial issues with American investors. It wasn’t until two decades later that this same script was used for “Runaway Train.

Shinji points out that “The Doomsday Flight”, an American television movie produced in 1966 and created by Rod Serling, served as inspiration for the 1975 release “The Bullet Train”. In this film, a plane is under threat due to a bomb that would explode if the altitude drops below 4,000 feet. This popular production broke records when it was broadcast on NBC in December 1966, becoming the most-watched TV movie at that time.

A Japanese movie for global audiences

Shinji expresses his deep affection for bullet train interiors, considering the bullet train as a shining gem in his cinematic universe. The artistic way he captured the bullet train was crucial to him. Given that high-speed trains are yet to launch in the U.S., with initial plans for 2021, the depiction of trains and train culture in Bullet Train Explosion seems like a scene straight out of a science fiction movie for us here in America.

In my observation, much like in the 1975 film, diligence, adherence to rules, and camaraderie are values we aim for in “Bullet Train Explosion”. It’s almost as if there’s a sense of unity and purpose that resonates with us. Perhaps it’s a distinctly Japanese trait, or maybe the youth today have different perspectives, but for us, growing up with the aspiration to strive towards a common goal was captivating.

Although Shinji acknowledges that Bullet Train Explosion has distinctly Japanese aspects, he’s not concerned about its appeal for worldwide viewers. “Certainly, it’s a homegrown tale,” he explains, “but I didn’t intend to create something solely relatable to the Japanese audience. Instead, I aimed to incorporate elements that would resonate universally with emotions.

In contrast to several movies Shinji has been involved with in the past, like “Attack on Titan” and “Shin Godzilla,” this project offered a more relatable foundation for the story. Instead of grappling with bridging the divide between reality and the extraordinary, he explains, it was about portraying something that could occur within our own world. While there might be some unusual characters in this film, they are authentic figures who you might encounter in daily life.

At its heart lies a transport experience that’s incredibly exhilarating, whether it’s deeply rooted in your culture or not. As Shinji puts it, “The ride on the bullet train is truly an extraordinary and exciting journey.” We strive to convey that thrill to you as well.

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2025-04-23 20:08

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