CREDITS
Distributed by
Netflix
Production companies
Umbrella Entertainment
Addictive Pictures
Causeway Films
Head Gear Films
Directed by
Ben Howling
Yolanda Ramke
Screenplay by
Yolanda Ramke
Based on Cargo by Ben Howling Yolanda Ramke
Produced by
Russell Ackerman
Kristina Ceyton
Samantha Jennings
Mark Patterson
Starring
Martin Freeman
Simone Landers
Anthony Hayes
David Gulpilil
Susie Porter
Natasha Wanganeen
Caren Pistorius
Cinematography
Geoffrey Simpson
Edited by
Dany Cooper
Sean Lahiff
SYNOPSIS
In a world recently overtaken by a virus that turns people rabid within 48 hours, Andy Rose, his wife Kay, and their baby Rosie are traveling down a river on a houseboat in rural Australia. Short on food, Kay suggests going ashore and scavenging, but Andy rejects this, arguing it would be safer to remain on the river until they reach their destination, a supposed refuge. The next day, Andy searches an abandoned sailboat and retrieves some supplies, but when Kay ventures out to collect more, she is bitten by a rabid human. Andy assists a man named Vic, owner of a fortified shelter, and meets Vic's apparent wife, Lorraine. Andy learns that Vic uses healthy humans in cages as bait, one of whom is Thoomi, to lure out the infected so he can shoot them. That night, Andy attempts , believing Rosie will be cared for by Vic and Lorraine, but Lorraine stops him and reveals that she is not Vic's wife, but his captive, and Vic murdered her real husband. Vic discovers them and knocks Andy out, and he awakens in the same cage as Thoomi. They help each other escape by using the combined strength of many infected to pull open their cage. As they escape the shelter with Lorraine and Rosie in tow, an enraged Vic shoots at them, inadvertently Lorraine. As the trio passes through a railway tunnel, they re-encounter Vic. Thoomi hides with Rosie while Andy and Vic fight. Vic manages to grab the revolver during the struggle and Andy, then goes after Thoomi and Rosie. When Andy recovers, he finds Vic cradling Rosie and weeping over the loss of Lorraine. Vic peacefully returns Rosie to Andy and allows them and Thoomi to leave. Later, Andy enters the final throes of infection. With his time almost gone, Andy asks Thoomi to look after Rosie. He and Thoomi prepare for his turning by binding his hands and preparing a piece of meat on a stick, which Thoomi uses to bait him once he has turned. In this manner, Thoomi uses Andy to carry her and Rosie safely on his back. They eventually catch up to a party of Aboriginal warriors and Thoomi is reunited with Josie. Thoomi uses Kay's perfume to bring Andy back to his senses just long enough to see that Rosie is safe, and a warrior puts Andy out of his misery. The group then returns to a large community of survivors deep in the wilderness. As Thoomi and Josie check Rosie for injuries, they find Andy had painted the words "Thank You" on her stomach. A tree in the community is decorated with items that belonged to Thoomi and Andy.