In Japan, the iconic high-speed bullet train holds a cultural significance comparable to that of Godzilla, sushi, and the majestic Mount Fuji. This legendary train is now the star of “Bullet Train Explosion,” a new film by director Shinji Higuchi, which debuts on Netflix this Wednesday.
Higuchi, renowned for his 2016 directorial work on “Shin Godzilla,” revitalizes the premise of the 1975 Japanese classic “The Bullet Train.” Much like its predecessor, the narrative revolves around a bomb poised to detonate if the train’s speed drops below 100 kph (62 mph). This gripping concept also inspired the popular Hollywood movie “Speed,” which features a similar premise onboard a bus.
Reflecting on his childhood, Higuchi remembers being enthralled by the bullet trains, their aerodynamic forms surging past like untamed forces of nature. To him, and many others in Japan, the Shinkansen—what the bullet trains are locally known as—embody the nation’s strive for excellence: swift, precise, and impeccably punctual.
“It’s distinctly Japanese,” Higuchi conveyed during an interview. The film underscores the country’s work ethic, akin to the samurai spirit, prioritizing professional duty, sometimes even over personal life.
A masterful mix of computer-generated imagery and meticulously crafted miniature models, scaled down to one-sixth the size, has brought a realistic touch to the film. Expansive LED walls on set simulated views from the train, blending smoothly with real train footage, culminating in riveting explosive sequences illustrated with sparking and smoky grandeur.
Ensuring authenticity while maintaining safety was essential, Higuchi emphasized, noting that the depiction of criminal acts within “Bullet Train Explosion” was carefully considered to avoid any realistic feasibility. It signifies a departure from his usual themes of heroes versus monsters, as this film explores moral complexities and the nature of evil.
While the original featured Ken Takakura as the bomber, Higuchi shifts the new film’s focus towards the train personnel. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, known for his esteemed performance in “Midnight Swan” as a transgender woman, stands out in his portrayal of a committed Shinkansen employee.
Of his collaboration with Higuchi, Kusanagi expressed, “I always enjoy working with the director,” during the Tokyo premiere, reflecting their longstanding professional rapport that stems from a 20-year association. Kusanagi has a history with Higuchi in “Sinking of Japan,” a 2006 science-fiction piece where natural disasters imperil the nation.
East Japan Railway Co., which emerged post-privatization of the national rail, is actively supporting the film by offering access to real trains, facilities, and authentic uniforms, even instructing actors to emulate the distinctive mannerisms of its employees.
Since its inception with the Tokyo-Osaka route in 1964, the bullet train has symbolized Japan’s resurgence as a prosperous economy and peaceful society amidst the post-war era. Today, the network has expanded across much of Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the southwest, with Higuchi’s film highlighting the stretch connecting Tokyo to Aomori.