Carriers
4/4
Starring: Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Emily Van Camp
Rated PG-13 for Violence, Disturbing Content and Language
"Carriers" was marketed as being a horror film a la "28 Days Later" (an overrated film if you ask me), and this is simply not the case. Although there are some suspenseful scenes, this is primarily a drama. A bleak and sad drama. It's closer to "Contagion" than "Dawn of the Dead."
A pandemic has devastated the planet. The world has appeared to have stopped in its tracks. Encountering a person has become a rare occurrence, although that may be a good thing since they may be infected. Four people are driving across the country in hopes of escaping the plague and living out their lives in peace. Danny (Pucci), was going to Yale before the plague hit. His brother Brian (Pine), a self-proclaimed dipshit, is the leader of the group. Bobby (Perabo), Brian's girlfriend, may be too nice for her own good. Also along for the ride is Danny's maybe girlfriend, Kate (Van Camp). Brian made the rules, but when it gets personal, are they going to be able to follow them?
The acting is terrific. All four leads give great performances. The best of the bunch is Chris Pine. Brian is a total ass. He's rude, crude and doesn't appear to care about anyone but himself. But beneath that abrasive exterior lies a guy who is afraid not only of his own mortality, but that of he people he loves. He says that everything is simple, but when he's up against the unthinkable, he realizes it's not. It is a testament to Pine's talent as an actor that he makes Brian likable, no matter how much of a jerk he is. Lou Taylor Pucci, who made a splash in the indie hit "Thumbsucker," unseen by me, is also very good. Danny is struggling to come to terms with his new hell, where everything he knew is now gone. Also good is Piper Perabo, whose compassionate nature threatens their lives. Sadly, Emily Van Camp, who was very good in the little seen "Black Irish," is given little to do. Also worth mentioning is Christopher Meloni, who became famous for playing Elliot Stabler on "Law and Order: SVU." Meloni is very, very good as Frank Holloway, a father of a sick child who catches a ride with them. He really tears at your heart (ironically, Meloni's background is in comedy).
Spanish brothers Alex and David Pastor direct this film with a firm hand. They have a good sense for atmosphere. This is not a happy movie. We get a sense of the devastation of the plague (which, thankfully, is unnamed and unexplained). There are a few missteps though. There is a scene where someone seems to become a zombie, and it doesn't really fit (the scene, however, is brief and a throwaway). And again, Emily Van Camp's character is under utilized. She's mainly a silent tagalong until the end where she becomes someone's conscience. The ending, however, is amazing. It's both sad and strangely beautiful.
Still, this is a good little movie built upon some intriguing, but not revolutionary ideas.
Starring: Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Emily Van Camp
Rated PG-13 for Violence, Disturbing Content and Language
The rules are simple. At least that's how my brother sees it. One, avoid the infected at all costs. Their breath is highly contagious. Two, disinfect anything they've touched in the past twenty four hours. Three, the sick are already dead, they cannot be saved. You break the rules, you die. You follow them, you survive. Maybe.
-Danny GreenThe thing that always fascinates me about zombie movies is the question of what a person would do if they were the only ones left alive. How would you survive? What would it feel like? How would your mind cope? Of course, in most zombie movies, this stuff is glossed over to make way for the scary violence and gore. That's not the case with "Carriers," a perceptive and intriguing little film.
"Carriers" was marketed as being a horror film a la "28 Days Later" (an overrated film if you ask me), and this is simply not the case. Although there are some suspenseful scenes, this is primarily a drama. A bleak and sad drama. It's closer to "Contagion" than "Dawn of the Dead."
A pandemic has devastated the planet. The world has appeared to have stopped in its tracks. Encountering a person has become a rare occurrence, although that may be a good thing since they may be infected. Four people are driving across the country in hopes of escaping the plague and living out their lives in peace. Danny (Pucci), was going to Yale before the plague hit. His brother Brian (Pine), a self-proclaimed dipshit, is the leader of the group. Bobby (Perabo), Brian's girlfriend, may be too nice for her own good. Also along for the ride is Danny's maybe girlfriend, Kate (Van Camp). Brian made the rules, but when it gets personal, are they going to be able to follow them?
The acting is terrific. All four leads give great performances. The best of the bunch is Chris Pine. Brian is a total ass. He's rude, crude and doesn't appear to care about anyone but himself. But beneath that abrasive exterior lies a guy who is afraid not only of his own mortality, but that of he people he loves. He says that everything is simple, but when he's up against the unthinkable, he realizes it's not. It is a testament to Pine's talent as an actor that he makes Brian likable, no matter how much of a jerk he is. Lou Taylor Pucci, who made a splash in the indie hit "Thumbsucker," unseen by me, is also very good. Danny is struggling to come to terms with his new hell, where everything he knew is now gone. Also good is Piper Perabo, whose compassionate nature threatens their lives. Sadly, Emily Van Camp, who was very good in the little seen "Black Irish," is given little to do. Also worth mentioning is Christopher Meloni, who became famous for playing Elliot Stabler on "Law and Order: SVU." Meloni is very, very good as Frank Holloway, a father of a sick child who catches a ride with them. He really tears at your heart (ironically, Meloni's background is in comedy).
Spanish brothers Alex and David Pastor direct this film with a firm hand. They have a good sense for atmosphere. This is not a happy movie. We get a sense of the devastation of the plague (which, thankfully, is unnamed and unexplained). There are a few missteps though. There is a scene where someone seems to become a zombie, and it doesn't really fit (the scene, however, is brief and a throwaway). And again, Emily Van Camp's character is under utilized. She's mainly a silent tagalong until the end where she becomes someone's conscience. The ending, however, is amazing. It's both sad and strangely beautiful.
Still, this is a good little movie built upon some intriguing, but not revolutionary ideas.
Comments
Post a Comment