The Lost Bus is inspired by a real rescue drama that unfolded during the deadly Camp Fire that engulfed and destroyed the entire town of Paradise, California in November 2018. The film stars Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Mud), America Ferrera (Barbie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and fire. Lots and lots of fire. It’s a bit like watching Speed, only the bad guys are smoke, ash, and flames.
McConaughey plays a down-on-his-luck school bus driver named Kevin who reluctantly agrees to pick up 22 kids and a teacher, Mary (Ferrera), from a local elementary school as fire starts closing in on the town. He is supposed to drop them off at a designated evacuation point but by the time they get there, the evacuation point has itself been evacuated. Thus begins an intense, challenging and dangerous hours-long journey to escape a raging inferno. Kevin and Mary must keep their cool (so to speak) and work together to figure out an escape route, all while keeping nearly two dozen terrified kids as safe and calm as possible.
The Lost Bus is directed by Paul Greengrass, a purveyor of high-drama, fact-based films (see: Captain Phillips, United 93). The screenplay is based on the book “Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire” by journalist Lizzie Johnson. The movie narrative takes some dramatic license, but the heart of the story is true, as is the message: fire is downright terrifying, and we need everyday heroes. The film would be harder to watch if you didn’t know that somehow they’d make it through. It’s a wild ride that reminds us all of the destructive force of fire, and the need to ensure that resources, safeguards and climate considerations are never taken for granted. If you have access to Apple TV+, it’s worth checking out.
The Lost Bus is in select theaters, and begins streaming on Apple TV+ on October 3.
Note: McConaughey’s mother and teenage son Levi both make brief appearances in the film- playing Kevin’s mother and son.