a cerebral human drama … unlike any other zombie flick you’ve ever seen

Stranded in the Australian Outback after a zombie apocalypse, Andy (Martin Freeman) tries to navigate the dangerous terrain to safeguard the life of his baby daughter. But he must battle not only zombies and other desperate humans who will do whatever it takes to survive, but also the enemies within which threaten to derail his bid to save his daughter’s life.

Cargo is a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse delivered coolly by debutantes writer-director Yolanda Ramke and co-director and producer Ben Howling based on their own 2013 seven minute short film of the same name.

I don’t even want to call it a zombie film. Why? Because that will turn off the prospective audience for what is a cerebral human drama. It really is different to any zombie flick.

The beautiful but stark Australian landscape, believable performances from Martin Freeman and his on-screen wife Kay, Susie Porter, as well as Andy’s guide through the wilderness Thoomi, Simone Landers in her debut role, and the realistic-feeling portrayal of an aboriginal culture, make this film unlike any other zombie flick you’ve seen.

Ramke and Howling deserve extra credit for never going in for cheap scares or thrills, resisting the urge to Wolf Creek it up, and having the confidence to tell their epic story in their own way and at their own pace. It even made for a fresh change to see a return to the shambling, disco-ordinated zombies of yore rather than the Usain Bolts we’ve come used to after 28 Days Later.

A gem that’s well worth it’s 88% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. An artistic (but not artsy or pretentious), visually compelling, refreshing take on the zombie genre.

4/5

© 2020, 2023 Bryan A. J. Parry

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