Carriers (2009)

Four friends fleeing a viral pandemic soon learn they are more dangerous than any virus.

Directors:

David Pastor, Àlex Pastor (as Alex Pastor)

Writers:

Àlex Pastor, David Pastor

Stars:

Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Danny
Chris Pine	...	Brian
Piper Perabo	...	Bobby
Emily VanCamp	...	Kate
Christopher Meloni	...	Frank
Kiernan Shipka	...	Jodie
Ron McClary	...	Preacher (voice)
Mark Moses	...	Doctor
Josh Berry	...	Survivalist
Tim D. Janis	...	Survivalist (as Tim Janis)
Dale Malley	...	Survivalist
Dylan Kenin	...	Tom
LeAnne Lynch	...	Rose
Jan Cunningham	...	Passenger
Mary Peterson	...	Laura Merkin (voice)

Storyline

In a world devastated by an outbreak, Brian, his girlfriend Bobby, his brother Danny and their friend, Kate, are heading to a beach where the brothers spent their childhood vacations expecting it to be a sanctuary. When their car breaks down on the road in the desert, they negotiate with a man called Frank, who is also stranded but without gas. He is trying to get his daughter Jodie to the hospital (she is infected with a disease of some kind), they all decide to travel together. During the journey, massive moral dilemmas arise, as events head into a downward spiral.

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Plot Keywords:

post apocalypse | disease | beach | virus | pandemic | 

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Taglines:

The rules are simple. You break them, you die...

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Spain]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 2009 (Indonesia)

Also Known As:

The Untitled Pastor Brothers Project

Filming Locations:

Zia Pueblo, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$90,820, 6 September 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$90,820, 6 September 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Vantage, Likely Story, This Is That Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though filmed in late 2006, Carriers was not released by Paramount until September 2009, following the success of Chris Pine's appearance in Star Trek, released earlier in 2009.

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Goofs

After driving around the SUV blocking the road, the Mercedes is seen spilling oil on the road. When they go back to the SUV the road is shown and it's clean.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Danny Green: Twenty questions. Go...

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Alternate Versions

The German Blu-ray and DVD release contains hard language and more bloody violence than the PG-13 Rated U.S. version.

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Connections

References The Road Warrior (1981)

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Soundtracks

Disco 1
Written by Jed Kurzel and Anthony Johnsen
Performed by The Mess Hall
Courtesy of Shock Records

User Reviews

How do you survive when there's no one around?

Despite its premise, "Carriers" is not a zombie movie (there is a hint that this may be a possible outcome of the unspecified disease, but it's quickly dropped). It's not even a horror movie. There are a few tense moments, but overall, the film is a tragedy.

Four young people are traveling together after most of humanity is wiped out after an unexplained outbreak of a fatal, and highly contagious disease: Danny (Lou Taylor Pucci), a would-be Yale student, if it weren't for the epidemic, his brother Brian (Chris Pine), who's a self-proclaimed jerk, Brian's girlfriend, Bobby (Piper Perabo), and another friend, Kate (Emily VanCamp). They're all trying to get to the beach where Danny and Brian vacationed together as kids. To do that, they're following three of Brian's rules: The infected are already dead, and they can't be helped. Always wear a mask around the infected. Wipe anything down that the infected have touched within the last 24 hours.

"Carriers" is interesting because it explores something that movies of this ilk leave as an afterthought: how would you function when society has completely vanished? No government, no jobs, no politics? The only rule here is to survive at any cost. It's an interesting question, and film-making brothers Alex and David Pastor pose a few interesting conclusions.

The acting is solid, although the characters are only as interesting as the actors who play them. Chris Pine is making a name for himself as the guy who's a complete dick on the surface, but with a heart underneath. Think the beginning of his performance in "Star Trek" taken to the next level. Lou Taylor Pucci, who burst onto the indie film circuit with his performance in "Thumbsucker" (unseen by me), is also good as the brother who is straddling the line between compassion and selfish survival. Piper Pearabo is good as Bobby, whose compassion for others can get her into trouble. Unfortunately, Emily VanCamp, who was terrific in "Black Irish," doesn't have much to do. Special note has to go to Christopher Meloni, who manages to tug the heart as the father of a sick little girl, and his daughter is adorable as well.

The problem with this film is I wanted more. I wanted to see more of the little things that people would do without any rules. The film is a very short 87 minutes, so it had some time to spare. This would allow for some character development, which would make this a lot more effective.

It's a movie to watch if it's on TV, or if you're interested in exploring a situation, not a zombie movie.