California has experienced a long list of wildfires over the years, but the deadliest of them all happened in 2018. The “Camp Fire”, as it’s called, burned over 150,000 acres and caused 85 fatalities before being contained 17 days after it began. The Lost Bus was inspired by real events that occurred during the fire that destroyed most of Paradise and its surrounding communities. Director Paul Greengrass was sure to convey two direct messages to audiences: mistakes can happen and were made in the handling of this fire, and most importantly, 100% of the fault lies with PG&E.
Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey) is a single father going through a rough patch in his life: he’s alone, his son doesn’t respect him, and he’s living in California on a bus salary while caring for his mother. While on the road, he was beginning to spiral into despair until a pillar of smoke in his rear-view mirror demanded his attention. Within hours, news of a wildfire had spread, and Kevin was put in a conundrum: does he rush medicine to his ailing son, who hates him, or does he respond to a dispatch call to take 25 schoolchildren to safety?
Greengrass, known for both documentaries (Captain Phillips, United 93) and action flicks (Jason Bourne, The Bourne Ultimatum), created a film based on real events with the drama and suspense of a high-stakes thriller. CGI made its presence felt pretty early, but it wasn’t anything outlandish. The visual threading through burning forests and residential infernos called for a bit of drama, but the film didn’t go overboard.
The casting was simply perfect. Matthew McConaughey stars as the lead man in a film where he’s taking care of his mom and his son, using his actual family. Levi McConaughey played the role of Shaun, a disrespectful, entitled kid who would rather be with his mother. Kevin’s mother, Sherry, who needed assistance because of age and illness, was played by Kay McConaughey. Portraying a family alongside your real one had to be pretty cool. America Ferrera plays Mary Ludwig, a school teacher who’s accustomed to rules and order. When things worsen as the fire spreads, Mary and Kevin clash on a few occasions as compromise and composure go head-to-head.
Yul Vazquez plays Chief Martinez of CAL FIRE, the fire department tasked with containing the inferno. He put on an award-worthy performance and really gave it to anyone affiliated with PG&E, the utility company that, for some reason, wouldn’t cut off the power to the lines. His impassioned speech to his colleagues really reflected the mammoth task ahead of them. As the fire continued to rage across Butte County, Kevin opted to answer the call for an open bus to reunite elementary school children with their parents. Among those children was Toby (Nathan Gariety), a frightened child who was consoled after being invited to sit by Kevin as he maneuvered them through falling power lines and burning neighborhoods. Making his sophomore film appearance, Gariety’s performance struck a chord that will feel relatable and have audiences genuinely concerned.
The film was really well done. The horrible trend of onscreen parents getting brutally reamed and disrespected by their children appears here, and to be quite honest, it’s getting old. Aside from that, and Mary looking for parents in a neighborhood set ablaze, the movie is pretty amazing. The score and cinematography were above par. The camera never hesitated to give a bird’s-eye view of the fire’s destruction or a tracking shot outside the bus.
The high wind gusts were the unpredictable variable that affected both rescue and containment efforts. Fire trucks were too far away, and planes eventually had to suspend flight. The high winds blew embers everywhere, which assisted the fire’s quick expansion. On three different occasions, Greengrass had somebody from PG&E get verbally assaulted onscreen. A group of line workers was presented as lazy, and the corporate figure was extra smug, all taking criticism without any response.
The Lost Bus gets an 8.5 out of 10. You’ll get what you’d expect out of Matthew McConaughey, but the big winner here is Yul Vazquez. It wouldn’t shock me to hear his name as award season starts to take shape. For a film to eclipse two hours in runtime in 2025, it has to be really good, or else face the wrath of critics and fans alike. The Lost Bus delivers on all fronts: excitement, drama, and suspense. Even though it’s set for Apple TV+ in just a few weeks, it’s worth a trip to a theatre. If you can catch it in IMAX, you won’t regret it. If there was ever a disaster video you needed to see, this is the one (and it won’t disappoint).
The Lost Bus is in limited theatres now.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV+
Genre: Biography/Drama/Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: In Theaters September 19, 2025 | On Apple TV+ October 3, 2025