With zombie movies ranging from wildly fantastical to excitingly realistic, the undead creatures have been a horror genre staple for decades. The films explore all the different ways humans can come back from the dead, threatening the rest of humanity. Though some zombie movies are scary for the sake of thrilling audiences, others seek to investigate the human psyche when it is forced into a foreign and infectious citation.

As the subgenre developed over the past six decades (arguably starting with Night of the Living Dead in 1968), certain best zombie movies are able to take these tropes and build upon them or subvert them, exploring different aspects of the creatures and apocalyptic storylines. This is the case in a 2018 Martin Freeman film, which takes a realistic and emotionally driven look at the lives of the infected.

Martin Freeman's Cargo Movie Is A Disturbingly Realistic Zombie Movie

The Movie Is An Emotionally Driven Look At The Genre

Set in Australia, Cargo is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a father and child trying to outrun the clock on a deadly infectious outbreak. Instead of being straight-up brain-seeking monsters, the infected are ill and slowly lose their sanity over 48 hours as they transition into being another zombie. In a time when global pandemics are possible, this premise preys on a disturbingly realistic fear of illness and widespread disease. Cargo was made on the front end of a zombie movie renaissance, with the genre regaining significance in recent years.

The film also uses its remote setting to its advantage, preying on the common fear of expansive open spaces and wilderness. The bleak landscape not only detracts hope from the characters and audiences but also forces the viewers to concentrate hard on the fates of the protagonists. The open spaces and wilderness is a relatively new take on the zombie movie format. Cargo relies on atmosphere and mood rather than jump scares or gore.

Cargo is available to stream on Netflix.

Though it lacked a wide-public release, premiering on Netflix in 2018, the film was well-received. It has amassed an 87% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. It received several nominations at the 2018 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, though it didn't win any. Despite this, the film still holds up today as a gripping and uniquely realistic look at the zombie genre. Its emotional depth and character relationships continue to resonate with audiences, making it stand out over six years later.

What Cargo Does Right That Zombie Apocalypse Movies Usually Overlook

The Movie Works To Develop The Characters Realistically

Instead of following the typical zombie movie thriller style of attempting to avoid being bitten, Cargo subverts common zombie movie tropes. It explores the aftermath of someone who has been bitten and must get their affairs in order before turning into a zombie. In the film, Andy Rose (Martin Freeman) seeks refuge for his baby after his infected wife bites him. While he knows there is little hope for him, he still attempts to take care of the child and find her a new home before he is no longer able to protect her.

Rather than focusing solely on action or survival, Cargo emphasizes the emotional struggles of its characters and protagonist. The familial bond between Andy and his daughter adds extra emotional depth and forces the movie to explore themes of love, loss, and sacrifice. This realism also seeps into the characters' actions, with the film presenting a more realistic depiction of survival and showing the everyday challenges of the post-apocalyptic world, like finding food and shelter, further reinforcing how it stands out in the genre.

How Cargo Ranks Among Martin Freeman's Best Movies

It Stands Out As A Horror Thriller Addition To His Resume

Martin Freeman's performance in Cargo is widely praised, as he gives life to the emotional turmoil of the character's journey. He is a significant factor in why Cargo is considered a character-driven zombie film as opposed to an action movie. However, despite the success of his performance, Cargo remains relatively unknown in his filmography, with some of his major roles being in The Hobbit, Black Panther, and Hot Fuzz.

Overall, Cargo still stands out as one of Freeman's best thriller horror movie roles. Unlike the heroic and fantasy films in which he typically plays, his performance in Cargo is notably grounded and realistic, giving good insight into Freeman's acting abilities and emotional depth. Not only does Cargo exemplify Freeman's acting, but it is also a standout in the zombie movie genre itself, creating a realistic and emotionally driven look at the often-overused tropes of the creatures and genre.