Cargo 2018

In a world ravaged by a virus that transforms individuals into zombies within 48 hours, a family, consisting of husband and wife Andy and Kay, along with their one-year-old daughter Rosie, manage to find sanctuary aboard a houseboat in the serene, yet perilous settings of rural Australia.

When the need arises to relocate for the evening, Andy notices two children frolicking on the river’s shore. Despite his calls to them, he continues navigating the waters after spying their father, who ominously reveals a revolver tucked into his belt. As the day unfolds, Andy attempts to gather fishing supplies, yet Kay voices her concern about their dwindling food rations, prompting a heated debate over the necessity of venturing onto land.

In a poignant interlude, we witness a young Aboriginal girl, Thoomi, adorning her shoes with leaves. The attention returns to Andy, who stumbles upon an abandoned sailboat, leading him to procure food that he presents to a skeptical Kay. Eventually, Kay decides to brave the waters alone to forage for more supplies, not knowing that tragedy awaits her.

Andy awakens to the unsettling sound of Rosie crying, prompting a frantic search for Kay. He discovers her in the bathroom, desperately attempting to staunch the blood from a bite on her knee. As tension builds, Kay investigates a retrieved pack filled with critical items: a bracelet that measures the duration until symptoms of the infection manifest and an injection meant to ease the impending pain of transition for the infected. With heavy hearts, they decide to leave their home behind and seek refuge at a hospital, but not without witnessing the haunting remnants of a burnt body on their journey.

Thoomi engages with her environment, throwing carcasses into a pit while suppressing the petrifying sounds around her. Meanwhile, Andy and Kay recover a vehicle, but a nerve-wracking encounter with a zombie becomes a test of their resilience. Kay’s condition worsens, culminating in a violent outburst that leads to a harrowing car crash, resulting in grave injuries.

As they become embroiled in a desperate fight for survival, Kay succumbs to her affliction, leaving Andy to confront the horrifying reality of having to inject her. As he carries on, now burdened with Rosie, his despair culminates in a heart-wrenching encounter with Thoomi, who leads him to a hidden community where he seeks refuge for Rosie with Willie, Thoomi’s father.

At this shelter, tension rises as Andy learns of Vic, a man filling the void of leadership with dubious methods, including using prisoners as bait to lure in zombies. A shocking betrayal awaits when Vic reveals his true nature, leading to a chaotic escape for Andy, Thoomi, and Rosie.

Their journey unfolds amid treacherous landscapes, encounters with the undead, and emotional turmoil as they confront loss, survival, and the haunting specter of Andy’s deteriorating condition. In a climactic showdown, Thoomi’s courage shines as she establishes a bond with her family while navigating the complexities of grief and hope.

In a moving finale, Thoomi and Rosie find solace and safety among the Aboriginal warriors, paying homage to their struggles and sacrifices. As the film draws to a close, the poignant remnants of Andy’s journey, depicted through heartfelt visuals and resonating motifs of survival, offer a reflective contemplation on humanity’s endurance amidst devastation.