Bullet Train

Stars: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Zazie Beetz, Bad Bunny, Hiroyuki Sinada, Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum

Director: David Leitch

Mimicking a non-stop Korean action flick, this ultra-violent comedy-thriller takes place in nearby Japan on a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond, 90 per cent of whose passengers seem to be hired assassins.

They're all after a case containing a fortune that's initially in the possession of 'twin' hitmen Lemon (Henry) and Tangerine (Taylor-Johnson attempting a really annoying estuary accent), but appropriated by Ladybug (Pitt) and pretty well everyone else on the train, including Prince (a doe-eyed King), Hornet (Beetz) and a Samurai warrior (Lerman) whose son is being held hostage.

Where are all the normal passengers? Well, I suppose they would just get in the way of the action, which is all slice and dice, mixing swordplay with gunplay and fisticuffs, until you're with Pitt when he says 'Just stop it!' as the participants risk losing life and/or limb as the train thunders along.

Pitt also provides most of the comedy asides, groaning 'Bad luck follows me around' to the voice of his handler (Bullock) as she gives him further instructions.

It's mayhem gone mad that invites you to take it or leave it, as all and sundry await the merciless White Death (Shannon) at the end of the line. If you're after an expensive and spectacular cheap thrill, the film does fill the bill. Just don't expect suspense or subtlety and wipe the blood off your face on the way out.

David Quinlan

USA/Japan/Canada 2022. UK Distributor: Sony (Columbia) . Colour by Company 3.
126 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 3, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 02 Aug 2022