Cargo (2017)

Cargo (2017) Summary
The movie 'Cargo' from 2017 is an Australian post-apocalyptic horror drama, directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. The film tells the difficult journey of a dad, Andy (played by Martin Freeman), throughout a remote Australian wasteland, attempting to keep his infant Rosie (played by a number of infants) safe in an environment ravaged by a mysterious pandemic, which turns its victims into blood-thirsty zombies.

Plot
The movie kicks-off with a small family - Andy, his better half Kay (Susie Porter) and their baby daughter Rosie - surviving on a houseboat, seeking haven from the fatal virus which has currently damaged the mainland. After Kay gets bitten in an attempt to retrieve some scavenged products, she develops into a zombie, resulting in a terrible incident where she bites Andy also before he is required to kill her.

Now contaminated, Andy just has 48 hours up until he transforms. With a self-determination that's fueled by love for his child, he starts a journey to find a safe place for Rosie before he develops into a monstrous zombie himself.

Encounters and Challenges
Throughout his journey, he comes across many challenges and a series of characters, consisting of a vicious survivalist Vic Carter (Anthony Hayes), who puts behind bars an Indigenous lady, Thoomi (Simone Landers), to use her contaminated daddy as bait to capture zombies. Andy saves Thoomi, and they end up being traveling buddies. The landscape is frightening, with Andy's physical condition rapidly degrading as he encounters different challenges along the course.

Climax and Conclusion
Towards the climax, Andy sacrifices himself, using his upcoming zombification to distract Vic and conserve Thoomi. The ultimate lyrical disaster is played out when Rosie's safety is left in the hands of Andy's ticking 'viral' clock. After his change, the kid - simply seeing her dad - unwittingly walks herself back to the safety of the Indigenous neighborhood that Thoomi belongs to.

The motion picture ends on a bitter-sweet note with Rosie being taken by the Torres Strait Islander woman from Thoomi's neighborhood while a zombified Andy, restrained by a meat smart lodged in his mouth, views helplessly, yet relieved understanding his child is now safe.

Verdict
Cargo is more than a typical zombie flick. It is a poignant expedition of parental love and sacrifice set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop. Though the plot might feel familiar to zombie-genre enthusiasts, it includes a wholehearted and charismatic performance by Martin Freeman, making it a gripping watch. The core story about the bond in between parents and children, echoes loudly in Cargo, straying far from the traditional zombie belief. The movie blends its horrifying components with a poignant drama about love, humanity and safeguarding those you care for the most, even when the world around you falls apart.

Cargo reaches the ruthless, melancholic depths of desperation and the necessity of sacrifice in the middle of a disaster. The movie thrives on its psychological ratio and remains on long after the credits have actually rolled.

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