‘Shin Godzilla’ Director Shinji Higuchi on Netflix’s ‘Bullet Train Explosion’ and His Love for Cinematic Destruction: It ‘Really Excites Me in a Weird Way’

Japanese filmmaker Shinji Higuchi finds beauty in bullet trains specifically so he can destroy them on screen, a creative paradox that defines his latest film, Netflix’s “Bullet Train Explosion,” and much of his celebrated career.
“The order, the precision that it symbolizes and something that’s stable… That’s something that I’m drawn to, and because I love it so much, I want to destroy it,” Higuchi tells Variety about the Japan-set film at Netflix’s Apac showcase in Tokyo.
The film’s central premise is that bombs are rigged to detonate instantly if the titular train’s speed drops below 100 km/h. The bomber demands JPY100 billion ($660 million) as ransom to disarm the explosive device, triggering a desperate race against time for crew, passengers and railway personnel.
Prior to “Bullet Train Explosion,” Higuchi established himself as a master of tokusatsu filmmaking, with trains frequently appearing in his destructive setpieces.
“The order, the precision that it symbolizes and something that’s stable… That’s something that I’m drawn to, and because I love it so much, I want to destroy it,” Higuchi tells Variety about the Japan-set film at Netflix’s Apac showcase in Tokyo.
The film’s central premise is that bombs are rigged to detonate instantly if the titular train’s speed drops below 100 km/h. The bomber demands JPY100 billion ($660 million) as ransom to disarm the explosive device, triggering a desperate race against time for crew, passengers and railway personnel.
Prior to “Bullet Train Explosion,” Higuchi established himself as a master of tokusatsu filmmaking, with trains frequently appearing in his destructive setpieces.
- 4/22/2025
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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