Film Review: CARGO (2017)

 CARGO (2017) Australia 1hr 45mins

Directors: Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke

"They're poisoning the land you know... we all get sick." - Cleverman

"We can't set foot on shore unless it's our last and only option." - Andy

"You're the first people I've seen. The first people who are still people." - Lorraine

Australia is in the midst of a viral pandemic. Andy (Martin Freeman), his wife Kay (Susie Porter) and their infant daughter Rosie have managed to escape the "virals" by sailing down the river in an old house boat. It is only when Kay gets bitten on an excursion to an abandoned yacht to get supplies that Andy has to bring his family back onto land to get Kay to the hospital. After a series of unfortunate events the trip ends up becoming a frantic search for a safe place for Rosie as both parents are infected. Andy, knowing he only has 48 hours after infection before he turns, wanders the bush with Rosie on his back trying to find survivors that he trusts to keep his baby girl safe before he himself becomes a danger to her. Along the way Andy meets Thoomi (Simone Landers), a young indigenous girl separated from her tribe as she tries her hardest to look out for her father who has also been infected. Andy, Rosie and Thoomi form a friendship through the situations they find themselves in and Andy promises to help Thoomi find her people before he turns.

CARGO (2017) is the feature length version of the short film CARGO (2013) both written by Yolanda Ramke and directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. The feature length is, naturally, more in depth and has the side story of Thoomi and the plight of the indigenous community. It takes the time to introduce Andy and his family before and after where the short cuts in but it follows the short in pretty much the exact way that it plays out which is great to see. The emotional impact of the CARGO (2013) (which is just over 7 minutes) is huge and will leave even the most hardened horror fan with a tear in their eye. CARGO (2017) only enhances and builds on this making it an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. Martin Freeman is a truly fantastic and accomplished actor having played many diverse roles over his career and was a fitting choice for the lead role. Andy is a kind of fish out of water type, being a British man in a country that is strange to him, he is a normal flawed person that doesn't always make the right call and is still quite a new to fatherhood yet devoted to his family with huge compassion for others around him. You instantly become emotionally attached to him, Rosie and Thoomi and feel his fear, determination and desperation in the circumstances he is under. This was Simone Landers first acting role as Thoomi and she also did an amazing job, taking her role seriously by working with indigenous artists and learning the local dialect. On the riverbank Andy and his wife pass a striken family which they try to approach. The father of the family is played by Andy Rodoreda who played the original father in CARGO (2013). Naming Freemans character Andy is an ode to Rodoreda in the original. There are also a couple of odd and unsavoury characters, Vic (Anthony Hayes) with his "wife" Lorraine (Caren Pistorius) seem like a suitable couple to care for Rosie but it soon becomes clear to Andy that all is not as it seems. This is a very character driven movie described as a drama/horror so it is a bit on the slow side of things when it comes to the zombies but they are there, quietly consistent, throughout.

Annoyingly, like 28 DAYS LATER (2002), the creators wanted to avoid the "zombie" label referring to them as "virals" but in the movie I also heard them called "diggers" due to one particular quirk they have adopted. Visually off putting but not particularly bloody they have this yellow goo that streams from their eyes, nose and mouth that clogs up their entire face. Initially, on infection which is transmitted via bites, scratches and bodily fluids the virus acts exactly like it does in other zombie movies. Fever, nausea and convulsions ensue but just before you turn this yellow goo appears as well. The other thing, as well as feeding on human flesh what they are compelled to do is dig a hole and bury their heads in the ground. Andy passes quite a few ominous scenes of virals with their heads completely submerged in the soil. Thoomi is the only one that brings up possible reasons why by saying "they're hibernating... they need the dark". The virals are certainly more active at night but will still attack during the day if they are disturbed. It would seem that the Australian government had sent out 'contamination packs' as Andy finds some floating down the river early on. These packs contain a watch that you must wear immediately after infection, it counts down the time you have left. It also contains an implement that looks a bit like an epi-pen which fires a bolt into your brain should you be able to end your life before turning. At times it can be quite gruesome but most things are implied rather than shown on screen. There is some blood and gut munching but not much in the grand scheme of things. The process of turning is shown in great detail though. Once left alone the virals do just shuffle about but when they pick up a scent they can run only not in the super charged way they show in some movies.

Set in the wondrous and desolate backdrop of South Australia it is beautiful yet intimidating. The score, composed by Michael Hohnen is haunting and effective and the soundtrack features the track "Trust Me" by I'm Talking. CARGO 2013 and 2017 are both amazing movies and I love the way the two are tied together both in how Andy gets bitten and how it ends is incredibly well thought out. It is absolutely heart breaking and I am not ashamed to admit that I was a blubbering mess by the end. I score CARGO (2017) a full 5 brains out of 5 and I would give the 2013 short the same score! Please check these both out as soon as you can if you haven't already!

CARGO (2017) is now streaming on Netflix and is available to buy on DVD.