TIFF 2025: The Lost Bus Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

True story natural disasters are ripe for the cinematic treatment. Time after time, stories about overcoming adversity, about everyday  people overcoming extraordinary circumstances, has an easy appeal for audiences as the best films allow for them to engage with its characters on a deeper level. Investment in the characters equals investment in these kinds of stories as they sit on the edge of their seats rooting for their survival. In terms of The Lost Bus, it is merely more of the same, for better or worse. That being said, subgenre conventions as they are, these films are more about their journey than their destination. Based on the book ‘Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire’ by Lizzie Johnson, The Lost Bus tells the story of the 2018 Paradise, California wildfire that would go on to burn 153,336 acres and take the lives of 85 people (on top of the billions in damage and the more than 50,000 displaced). The focus of the film, and that of the source material, is the relationship between bus driver Kevin McKay (McConaughey) and dedicated primary school teacher Mary Ludwig (Ferrera). Taking some liberties with the source material in is adaptation for the big screen, those choices perhaps give the film more narrative weight but they essentially matter little in the grand scheme. Though some audiences will find themselves connecting with Kevin and Mary for their backstories, adding context to their characters over the course of the proceedings, most will be drawn to the prospect of Kevin/McConaughey driving a bus through fire.

However, for what the film lacks in narrative complexity, it makes up for technically as it places audiences in the literal line of fire. With much of California suffering from drought-like conditions, November 8th, 2018 seemed just like any other, until a faulty power line triggered a fire within those dry conditions and quickly developing into a wildfire that would grow into a monster that not even the authorities could control (burning until November 25th, 2018). Meanwhile, in the midst of the evolving crisis, there was still the matter of 22 children who still needed to be evacuated from an elementary school near the eastern border of Paradise. Cue Kevin who just happened to be at the right place at the right time and of course Mary, wanting to be there for her students, tagged along for a bus ride no one will ever forget. From there, a surplus of shaky cam helped set the scene, as Kevin, Mary, and the 22 students braved the devolving fiery landscape that surrounded them. A roller coaster in and of itself, the film will have many audiences on the edge of their seats through the ups and downs, but the outcome is never in doubt as the ordeal proved to be an opportunity for Kevin and Mary to bond.

In the end, The Lost Bus is about the bus’ adventure through the fire, as strong VFX and sound design, make that experience come to life. While not overly new, that level of immersion keeps things interesting. The strength of the film lies more on its technical side than its performances. Despite a phoned in performance, McConaughey is fine as Nick. In comparison, Ferrara has a semblance of an arc as Mary, but this is McConaughey’s show.

Overall, The Lost Bus is a fine disaster movie that isn’t quite a disaster, telling a story that is important without taking any risks in doing so.

still courtesy of Apple Original Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.