Review of Contagion (2011) by Durell B — 10 Feb 2013

I for the life of me can't understand why an A list cast was used when none of them get starring roles. I'm all for an A lister taking a low key role, in a low key film, its very humbling. But when you have a large, well known cast and they only have meager roles, it would be better to fill those roles with an unknown cast so the small part can be made more believable.

This is however a Soderbergh film and he has made his career in being one of very few directors that is great in working with top tier ensemble cast. It just seems unnecessary but the performances are always great regardless of their impact.

None of that really matters because Contagion was hauntingly fantastic. I loved it. This is exactly how a real pandemic would look. No crazy explosions or over-the-top FX, just genuine frightening moments.

Monsters, ghosts and deranged killers are not scary. What is scary is a widespread virus that has no cure, no origin and attacks its host faster than the flu. Soderbergh made this world very realistic.

No Hollywood build up or gimmicks. Contagion is effective because its slow and concise. It provides a behind the scenes view of corporations experimenting with AntiVirus drugs and the corruption from within.

The anarchy of the citizens is handled in a mature manner. There are not huge smoke clouds from people having started bonfires or outlandish criminal acts. Yes, there are fires but they are more contained and made to feel more like Hell has not completely broken loose.

.. yet. This is a slow, methodical and believable unraveling of society. It ended exactly as it needed too. Contagion actually is precisely how I would envision the months before a zombie outbreak. Most zombie films have someone waking to the world having gone to Hell with no explanation or it just starts with the invasion in progress.

Contagion is the happenings before the zombie plague. Well acted, nice imagery and effective color palette. No promises of a sequel or that all is well but more of a what now. I needed more when it ended and I sincerely hope there is a Contagion 2 on the horizon.