Review of Cargo (2009) by None O — 23 Aug 2010

Not every sci-fi film can possess the originality of The Matrix or Alien(s). That's okay. Cargo recycles several familiar sci-fi themes but weaves them into a story all its own. It provides some chills, thrills, a mystery, a villain(s), and ultimately, an emotionally fulfilling conclusion. It's well-acted and the production values are high.

I appreciate Cargo's use of mostly realistic future-tech, at least compared to most science fiction. Artificial gravity is generated through centrifugal force. There's no faster-than-light travel. Space travel is a cold, slow, lonely journey made possible only because of a cryogenic sleep process. If this sounds a little like Alien, you're right. The visual look and feel of ship interiors owes much to Alien, too.

The expansive exterior views are reminiscent of Kubrick's 2001. Cargo often shows the massive size of the ships and space stations compared to the tiny speck of a human being. Some of the interior areas, too, are so large that people are like insects. This is a visual aspect of the film that I enjoyed very much.

No film succeeds without a solid story. Cargo has one. Portions of the story will feel familiar, and you'll guess some of the "mystery" before it is revealed. However, Cargo is not primarily a mystery story. It is a story about people, and one person in particular. I grew to care about her and her fate over the course of the film. Therefore, I believe the movie succeeds.