Withzombie moviesranging from wildly fantastical to excitingly realistic,the undead creatures have been a horror genre staplefor decades. The films explore all the different ways humans can come back from the dead, threatening the rest of humanity. Though somezombie movies are scaryfor the sake of thrilling audiences, others seek to investigate the human psyche when it is forced into a foreign and infectious citation.
As the subgenre developed over the past six decades (arguably starting withNight of the Living Deadin 1968), certainrules for zombie movieshave evolved, creating tropes in the genre. These actions and behaviors are often seen as wildly overused to the point of exhaustion. Some of thebest zombie moviesare able to take these tropes and build upon them or subvert them, exploring different aspects of the creatures and apocalyptic storylines. This is the case in a 2018 Martin Freeman film, whichtakes a realistic and emotionally driven look at the lives of the infected.
Martin Freeman’s Cargo Movie Is A Disturbingly Realistic Zombie Movie
The Movie Is An Emotionally Driven Look At The Genre
Set in Australia,Cargois apost-apocalyptic thriller about a father and child trying to outrun the clock on a deadly infectious outbreak. Instead of being straight-up brain-seeking monsters, the infected are ill and slowly lose their sanity over 48 hours as they transition into being another zombie. In a time when global pandemics are possible, this premise preys on a disturbingly realistic fear of illness and widespread disease.Cargowas made on the front end of azombie movie renaissance, with the genre regaining significance in recent years.
Cargo Review: Martin Freeman’s Walking Dead is Pretty Good
Cargo is a slow burn zombpocalypse drama that hits some familiar beats, yet there’s a rich humanism at its core that makes the journey meaningful.
The film also uses its remote setting to its advantage,preying on the common fear of expansive open spaces and wilderness. The bleak landscape not only detracts hope from the characters and audiences but also forces the viewers to concentrate hard on the fates of the protagonists. The open spaces and wilderness is a relatively new take on the zombie movie format.Cargorelies on atmosphere and mood rather than jump scares or gore.
Cargois available to stream on Netflix.
Though it lacked a wide-public release, premiering on Netflix in 2018, the film was well-received.It has amassed an 87% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. It received several nominations at the 2018 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, though it didn’t win any. Despite this, the film still holds up today as a gripping and uniquely realistic look at the zombie genre. Its emotional depth and character relationships continue to resonate with audiences, making it stand out over six years later.
What Cargo Does Right That Zombie Apocalypse Movies Usually Overlook
The Movie Works To Develop The Characters Realistically
Instead of following the typical zombie movie thriller style of attempting to avoid being bitten,Cargosubvertscommon zombie movie tropes. Itexplores the aftermath of someone who has been bittenand must get their affairs in order before turning into a zombie. In the film, Andy Rose (Martin Freeman) seeks refuge for his baby after his infected wife bites him. While he knows there is little hope for him, he still attempts to take care of the child and find her a new home before he is no longer able to protect her.
Rather than focusing solely on action or survival,Cargoemphasizes the emotional struggles of its characters and protagonist. The familial bond between Andy and his daughter adds extra emotional depth and forces the movie toexplore themes of love, loss, and sacrifice. This realism also seeps into the characters' actions, with the film presenting a more realistic depiction of survival and showing the everyday challenges of the post-apocalyptic world, like finding food and shelter, further reinforcing how it stands out in the genre.
How Cargo Ranks Among Martin Freeman’s Best Movies
It Stands Out As A Horror Thriller Addition To His Resume
Martin Freeman’s performance inCargois widely praised, as he gives life to the emotional turmoil of the character’s journey. He is a significant factor in whyCargois considered a character-driven zombie film as opposed to an action movie. However, despite the success of his performance,Cargoremains relatively unknown in his filmography, with some of his major roles being inThe Hobbit, Black Panther,andHot Fuzz.
Overall,Cargostill stands out as one ofFreeman’s best thriller horror movie roles. Unlike the heroic and fantasy films in which he typically plays, his performance inCargois notably grounded and realistic, giving good insight into Freeman’s acting abilities and emotional depth. Not only does Cargo exemplify Freeman’s acting, but it is also a standout in thezombie moviegenre itself, creating a realistic and emotionally driven look at the often-overused tropes of the creatures and genre.
Cargo
Cast
Cargo (2018) is an Australian post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. Starring Martin Freeman as a father desperate to save his infant daughter amidst a zombie outbreak, the film explores themes of survival, parenthood, and sacrifice. Adapted from the directors' 2013 short film, Cargo is set against the backdrop of the Australian outback and offers a somber and introspective take on the zombie genre.
