Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- bleak
- empathetic
- foreboding
- late night horror viewing
- survival movie marathon
What critics said
Critics generally praised Cargo for its emotionally focused approach to zombie horror, Martin Freeman’s quietly intense performance, and the freshness of its Australian setting, while some found the story thin and insufficiently frightening.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Andy’s journey is driven by the need to secure a guardian for his infant daughter while his infection advances.
Andy has approximately 48 hours before transformation, creating a persistent deadline for the journey.
An Aboriginal tribe represents both Rosie’s best chance of protection and a threat because of its harsh treatment of the afflicted.
The story unfolds around a houseboat, isolated river routes, and remote Australian communities.
Films like Cargo, and why
The Road
shared post-apocalyptic survival drama, parental devotion, bleak road journey, and emotionally restrained atmosphere
28 Days Later
shared character-driven zombie horror, moral tension, infection threat, and intimate family stakes
The Rover
shared Australian post-apocalyptic setting, survivalist conflict, and heightened genre world-building
The Last of Us
shared grief-driven survival narrative, endangered children, and compassionate humanism amid catastrophe
Movie Details
- Directors
- Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke
- Release Date
- 2017-10-06
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1910)
Cast
- Martin Freeman
- Simone Landers
- Anthony Hayes
- Susie Porter
- Caren Pistorius
- Kris McQuade
- Natasha Wanganeen
- Bruce R. Carter
- David Gulpilil
- Andy Rodoreda
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cargo about?
- An infected father races through a devastated Australia to find a protector for his infant daughter before time and humanity run out.
- What is Cargo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cargo as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cargo violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Cargo as brutal.
- What did critics think of Cargo?
- Critics generally praised Cargo for its emotionally focused approach to zombie horror, Martin Freeman’s quietly intense performance, and the freshness of its Australian setting, while some found the story thin and insufficiently frightening.
- Which films are like Cargo?
- Films with a similar feel include The Road, 28 Days Later, The Rover, and The Last of Us.
- How long is Cargo?
- Cargo runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cargo?
- In United States, Cargo streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
