Carriers (2009) Review

Carriers (2009): Reviewed by Stuart Conover

Carriers, directed and written by both: Alex Pastor and David Pastor, is a post apocalyptic movie that follows many of the same preconceptions of an infection movie but is set with an interesting time frame in mind. Most post apocalyptic movies take place at the start through the end of an outbreak if it involves an infection or well after an outbreak occurs. In Carriers we get to see between the end of an outbreak that has decimated the human population and the eventual rebuilding process as we follow two brothers and two women trying to survive while avoid being infected. They follow a few very basic rules of avoiding the general populace and covering up when they do need to come in contact with other survivors to attempt and avoid infection. Their goal? A nearly deserted beach that the brothers grew up staying at where they would be able to stay isolated and be self sufficient through fishing.

Visually the film was well shot and gives us a world portrayed as still nearly intact. There is still electricity and in the areas they travel through there has not been an overly destroyed infrastructure. While the majority of humanity is clearly dead, electricity, roads, shelter, etc are all still intact. Not enough time has gone by to show a completely destroyed and ransacked world by those who are able to survive. It truly had that dreary feel that is brought forth by the well done zombie films that are about a world where we are no longer the masters of our domain. An ever ending sea of depression and hopelessness is covering the land and our characters are still able to hold onto a hope for survival. They have a plan and believe this plan will bring them to survival and safety that will allow them to move past the decimation of the human race.

This truly is the story or two brothers, Danny(Lou Taylor Pucci) and Brian(Chris Pine), as they try to make this journey. While with them are Brian’s girlfriend, Bobby (Piper Perabo) and the woman Danny is interested in, Kate(Emily Vancamp,) it is quickly clear that they are the supporting characters to the brothers and how they both see through on their vision of how to survive with slightly different moral compasses. Soon after we begin following them on their trek to an isolated paradise they run across a father, Frank(Christopher Meloni) and his infected daughter, (Kiernan Shipka,) and have to decide to help them or move on. This is the first key moment in the story that will drive a wedge between the two brothers and how they struggle to fight against it. The acting by all of the characters, but specifically these 6, are what help to fully make this movie enjoyable. You can see the points of view of all of them as well as not feel that even for a second they are faking how they are feeling or thinking.

There are many moral decisions the group comes across on their journey and it’s a decent movie on showing what both people are willing to do and have to do to survive when pushed into extreme moral situations. In every single instance that they encounter other survivors decisions must be made and it shows truly how much people are willing to do to survive, both by the people they encounter and with the four that we are following through the film. As the movie itself only spans 4 days it’s hard to speak too much more on the plot itself unfortunately without giving away key scenes or spoilers. If you are a fan of the end of the world scenarios that follow a group of survivors this is one I highly suggest you see.