Cargo (2017) is an Australian post-apocalyptic drama film directed Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. It is a unique take on the zombie genre, offering a fresh and emotional perspective. The film stars Martin Freeman as Andy, a father trying to protect his daughter in a world ravaged by a zombie virus.
Set in the Australian outback, Cargo follows the story of Andy and his wife, Kay, as they struggle to survive after a virus outbreak has turned much of the population into infected zombies. After Kay becomes infected, Andy is left with the daunting task of keeping their young daughter, Rosie, safe. As the virus spreads rapidly through his own body, Andy has only a few days before he turns into one of the infected.
His mission becomes a desperate race against time as he searches for a safe place to leave Rosie, hoping to find a person or community that can take care of her after he loses his humanity.
One of the film’s strongest points is its focus on the emotional and human aspects of survival rather than just the typical action-oriented tropes often found in zombie films. Andy’s journey is not just about evading zombies but about his deep love and responsibility toward his daughter.
This parent-child bond is at the heart of the film, adding emotional depth to what could otherwise be a standard survival horror story
