• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Bryan Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson star in Bullet Train. (Courtesy Columbia)

Movie Review: ‘Bullet Train’

August 3, 2022
By John Mulderig
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

NEW YORK –  What kind of a ride can viewers expect on “Bullet Train” (Columbia)? Though complex, clever and quick-paced, director David Leitch’s action comedy is also blood-soaked. As penned by Zak Olkewicz, moreover, this screen version of Kotaro Isaka’s 2010 novel simultaneously revels in and trivializes the increasingly nasty violence with which it’s stuffed.

Brad Pitt plays a hitman with the unlikely codename Ladybug (an ironic moniker based on his perpetual bad luck). Intent on reforming himself by avoiding murder in the future, he turns instead to theft, accepting a mission from his handler, Maria (Sandra Bullock), to nab a briefcase stuffed with cash off a high-speed train traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Ladybug finds his resolve to avoid causing fatalities put to the test, however, once he discovers the presence, among the other passengers, of an array of less-sensitive assassins, all working at cross purposes with him. 

They include British partners Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) as well as the Prince (Joey King), a seemingly vulnerable young woman whose innocent appearance belies her viciousness. (The latter’s nickname turns out to be a sarcastic comment on her father’s favoritism toward her older brother.)

In between the harsh showdowns in which the killers engage as they struggle for possession of the loot, we’re treated to some humorous verbal exchanges. Influenced by his analyst, Ladybug likes to dispense hackneyed – and unwanted – psychological advice while Lemon has learned all his life lessons from watching “Thomas & Friends,” the animated series centered on Thomas the Tank Engine.

But soon it’s back to the escalating mayhem. In addition to being shot, characters are poisoned in a way that makes blood rush out of their eyes and decapitated as they fight on the roof of the speeding vehicle. And these deaths are treated both as comic fodder and as a source of freewheeling excitement.

A more restrained depiction of the bloodletting inherent in the story might have made it acceptable for grown-ups. As it is, this slick but morally careless picture soon goes off the ethical tracks.

Look for: A high-gloss production and witty dialogue. Look out for: Excessive gory violence, gruesome images, pervasive vulgar language, a few profanities, some premarital sensuality and sexual humor. The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is U – unsuitable for all. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

More movie reviews

Fox Nation announces second season for ‘Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’

Television Review: ‘Patience,’ June 15, and streaming, PBS

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

Formerly a staff member for Catholic News Service, John Mulderig has been reviewing visual media from a Catholic perspective for 15 years. His column is syndicated by Catholic Review Media. Follow his reviews on Twitter @CatholicMovie.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Prodigal son to priest

  • Deacon Alex Mwebaze is happy to call Maryland home

  • Deacon O’Donnell’s ‘normal’ faith life led to priestly vocation

  • Thank you to a one-of-a-kind teacher

  • Need for more Catholic Army chaplains to serve military flock as great as ever, say two priests

| CURRENT EDITION |

| Vatican News |

corpus christi

Pope leads Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome

Bomb Iran

Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace

JUBILEE

Finance experts launch report at Vatican on foreign debt relief

Latin Mass

Traditionalist Catholics see evangelization potential of Latin Mass

POPE LEO XIV

Liturgical music can teach value of unity in diversity, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Fox Nation announces second season for ‘Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’

Television Review: ‘Patience,’ June 15, and streaming, PBS

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

| En español |

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

El ‘Obispo Bruce’ forjó fuertes lazos con Baltimore en tiempos difíciles y tenía corazón de pastor

El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope leads Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome
  • Excitement and pride abound at ordination of five priests for Archdiocese of Baltimore
  • ‘Slaughter of innocents’ in suicide bombing at Syrian church called ‘unspeakable evil’
  • Pilgrims walk in the footsteps of America’s first saint
  • Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace
  • We are part of the miracle
  • Visiting Upstate New York’s National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs
  • Washington Roundup: Trump weighs options in Israel-Iran conflict, CLINIC condemns expanded ICE raids
  • Malta in the Jubilee Year: A quieter pilgrimage of hope

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED