Bullet Train (2022)

Unlucky assassin Ladybug is determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug's latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe—all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives—on the world's fastest train.

3.5 / 5

INCLUVIE SCORE

3.8 / 5

MOVIE SCORE

Representation

Asian

Black

Latino/a

Daleyna

August 8, 2022

3.5 / 5

INCLUVIE SCORE

3.5 / 5

MOVIE SCORE

'Bullet Train' Review: Stereotypes Galore!

Aboard a bullet train in Japan, a group of assassins from all over the globe converge as they realize their missions have something in common. These characters are quirky, deadly, and diverse. Yet, they all seem to be some type of caricature, which is a symptom of the movie’s overall shallowness. While Bullet Train is fun and action-packed, it’s also packed with stereotypes that don’t make for the best representation. Bullet Train is actually adapted from the original Japanese novel entitled Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka. In the book, all of the characters are presumably Japanese (there are only a few non-Japanese names, but they are code names such as Maria and Lemon). However, only one of the main assassins is Japanese in the movie, and he's more of a supporting character. Brad Pitt stars as the main assassin, Ladybug. It’s not a good sign to center a white man instead of a Japanese one when the entire movie takes place in Japan. The setting doesn’t feel like it truly takes place in Japan, but rather a fantastical Japan-esque world cultivated in the mind of a white Westerner. As such, exoticization and fetishization of Japanese culture abound in dialogue, character types, and more. For example, Ladybug makes several comments about wishing to visit a temple or garden where he can relax, indicating that he sees Japan as more of an exotic escape than anything else. What the movie does depict about bullet trains and Japan contains many

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