Matthew McConaughey’s fire rescue movie ‘The Lost Bus’ will stress you out

TORONTO — Some difficult dilemmas are faced in “The Lost Bus,” a survival drama starring Matthew McConaughey that premiered Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival.

And not only by the characters, who put the pedal to the metal to save their lives as their town is ravaged by fire. The movie itself hits some roadblocks, too.

Director Paul Greengrass’ film is about the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, and he wants us to feel the heat. 

So, the audience’s perspective is that we’re aboard the school bus with the 22 kids, a panicked teacher and determined driver, swerving away from flames and shaking from oil tank explosions.

The camera is not a stand-in for our eyes, per se, a la Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence,” but otherwise it’s as immersive as it gets without 3D and those awful theaters that spray water in your face.

That environmental atmosphere is often effective. As smoke seeps in and the fires ferociously grow, we’re inside a rescue vehicle that risks turning into an oven. Add children who are thrown into extreme peril, and “The Lost Bus” is a very stressful movie, indeed. As it should be.

There is, of course, a downside to making the viewer feel like they’re in the story though. And that’s that “The Lost Bus” has a queasy video-game quality to it, like there’s a controller in your hand instead of a Pepsi. Certain scenes come off as escalating levels to win rather than actual, grounded events that happened.

Thus, the true story of driver Kevin McKay (McConaughey), who heroically saved 22 little ones and two adults during a dangerous five-hour ride that was meant to take minutes, flirts with commodity action. 

And, dare I say, at times it’s almost too thrilling — reminiscent of a 1990s natural disaster flick. Think “Dante’s Peak.”

What keeps “The Lost Bus” from going full PlayStation — or full Brosnan — is a pulsing performance from McConaughey as a flawed dad desperately trying to reach his ill son (played by McConaughey’s own offspring, Levi Alves McConaughey) while saving the sons and daughters of others. 

The actor goes for more than “Speed 2: Cruise Control” adrenaline. His Kevin exhibits tenderness and tactics, even while keeping his eyes on the road, and an overarching sense that getting these kids home safely is what he’s been put on earth to do. 

And he has a sweet rapport with America Ferrara’s teacher, Mary, who tries to keep it together for her students while knowing full well everything has gone to hell. 

In the darkest moment, she delivers a line, both caring and hopeless, that’s the movie’s biggest gut punch.

The other dilemma is for the film’s studio, Apple.

“The Lost Bus” is getting a small theatrical release in select theaters, where it will work best, and then shuffles off to AppleTV+ on Oct. 17. 

But this is a movie fueled by our own anxiety, and I have doubts that home viewers will make it all the way through it on the couch where comfort watches reign supreme. 

“The Lost Bus” is a really bumpy ride. It’s got to be.