Netflix’s New Action Movie Set On a Bullet Train: A Better Speed Sequel Than Speed 2 Was.

In the realm of high-speed action films, the 1994 thriller Speed remains a quintessential classic, blending a heart-pounding premise with gripping tension.

Starring Keanu Reeves as the determined cop Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as the resourceful Annie Porter, Speed had audiences on the edge of their seats as a terrorist forces a city bus to stay above 50 miles per hour, threatening to explode if the speed drops.

The movie’s high stakes, non-stop action, and memorable performances helped it carve a lasting place in Hollywood history.

However, when the time came for a follow-up, Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) failed to recapture the magic of its predecessor.

Shifting the action from a speeding bus to a luxury cruise ship, the sequel lacked the visceral thrill of the original and left many fans disappointed.

The film’s dull premise, poor pacing, and lack of character development made it feel more like a misfire than a natural continuation of the story.

It’s a film that many would rather forget, a limp sequel that tarnished the high-octane allure of its predecessor.

Fast-forward nearly three decades, and Netflix has debuted an action movie that effectively picks up where Speed 2 failed — without directly referencing it.

Enter Bullet Train, an exhilarating, action-packed ride that not only matches the intensity and excitement of Speed but even surpasses it in some ways.

Set entirely aboard a high-speed bullet train traveling across Japan, the film reinvents the formula of high-stakes action, delivering a fresh yet familiar experience for viewers.

In many ways, Bullet Train feels like the sequel Speed 2 should have been — but never was.

The Concept: A High-Speed Thrill Ride

At its core, Bullet Train borrows from the same high-speed premise that made Speed so compelling: a confined, high-risk setting that keeps tension at its peak.

The film centers on Ladybug (Brad Pitt), a weary assassin trying to complete a simple mission aboard a bullet train.

However, things quickly spiral out of control as multiple assassins with competing motives cross paths, leading to a chaotic series of events on the fast-moving train.

The confined space, combined with the train’s relentless pace, ensures that the stakes remain high throughout the film, much like the constant pressure to keep the bus in motion in Speed.

The film’s use of the bullet train as a setting introduces an element of novelty — it’s not just about speed, but about being trapped in a contained, high-tech environment.

This sense of entrapment creates an atmosphere of suspense and urgency that continuously drives the plot forward.

While Speed had the simplicity of a bus ride with a ticking time bomb, Bullet Train takes a similar principle and elevates it, offering a more elaborate story with multiple layers of intrigue and unexpected twists.

The Characters: Complexity Meets Quirk

One of the things Speed excelled at was its memorable characters, particularly Keanu Reeves’ Jack Traven, who was both tough and relatable.

But, despite this, the film kept its character development minimal, focusing more on the action.

In contrast, Bullet Train offers a wide variety of colorful characters, each with their own backstory and motivations. Brad Pitt’s Ladybug, for example, is a laid-back, almost Zen-like hitman who prefers a “clean job” over chaos.

His easygoing demeanor provides a humorous contrast to the bloody violence surrounding him, and Pitt’s comedic timing and charisma bring a lightness to the film that complements the frenetic pace of the action.

The other characters on the train — including Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), and Prince (Joey King) — are equally well-developed, each with a unique personality and quirks that add complexity to the narrative.

They’re not mere plot devices, but rather characters with distinct traits that contribute to the unfolding drama.

The contrast between their various motivations and methods adds an extra layer of unpredictability, giving the film an edge that Speed 2 sorely lacked.

The Action: Unrelenting, Yet Creative

Of course, what made Speed such an enduring success was its ability to maintain a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat pace, while allowing room for character moments to shine through.

Bullet Train takes this concept and amplifies it, creating not just a constant barrage of action sequences, but cleverly choreographed fight scenes and well-timed humor.

The film’s fight sequences are a testament to the sheer creativity that can be achieved in a confined, high-speed setting.

There are sword fights, shootouts, and even a high-flying battle in the train’s restroom — all of it shot with precision and an eye for style.

What makes the action sequences so effective is that they don’t just feel like empty spectacle; they’re infused with personality.

The fights have a comedic edge, with characters cracking jokes or exchanging witty banter mid-battle.

This lightheartedness serves as a refreshing contrast to the intensity of the action, ensuring that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This is a far cry from Speed 2, where the action, while technically impressive, felt detached from the film’s characters, and lacked the same tight, personal stakes.

The Tone: Fun and Stylish

While Speed had a serious tone, Bullet Train leans into a more playful, stylized approach, inspired by director David Leitch’s background in action choreography.

Leitch, known for films like John Wick and Deadpool 2, knows how to blend slick visuals with sharp editing to create a sense of visual spectacle.

The film’s aesthetic is a testament to this — it is colorful, fast-paced, and brimming with inventive set-pieces.

The film’s pacing and tone strike a balance between high-octane thrills and moments of absurdity, preventing it from becoming bogged down in grimness or excess.

Bullet Train feels like a breath of fresh air in a genre that sometimes takes itself too seriously, offering a fun, stylish, and exhilarating ride from start to finish.

This is precisely the kind of energy Speed 2 failed to capture, as it became bogged down by its overly earnest premise and lackluster execution.

A Superior Sequel to Speed 2

Bullet Train delivers an action-packed experience that not only revives the spirit of Speed but elevates it, offering a fresh take on the concept of high-speed thrills.

The movie captures the tension, excitement, and creative action that made Speed iconic while steering clear of the missteps that doomed Speed 2. With its ensemble of memorable characters, inventive action sequences, and a playful tone, Bullet Train is not just a fun ride — it’s a superior action film that outshines its predecessor in nearly every regard.

For fans of high-speed action, this is a train you don’t want to miss.