Carriers (film)

Carriers is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic film written and directed by Àlex and David Pastor. It stars Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, and Emily VanCamp as four survivors of a viral pandemic attempting to avoid the looming threat of becoming infected. Filmed in 2006, it received a limited release in the United States on September 4, 2009, following Pine's breakout performance in Star Trek earlier that year. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed $5.8 million. In 2020, the film received renew focus and praise during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Carriers
Promotional film poster
Directed by
  • Àlex Pastor
  • David Pastor
Produced by
  • Anthony Bregman
  • Ray Angelic
Written by
  • Àlex Pastor
  • David Pastor
Starring
Music by
  • Peter Nashel
  • Brick Garner
CinematographyBenoît Debie
Edited byCraig McKay
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Vantage
Release date
  • September 4, 2009 (2009-09-04) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$5.8 million[1]

Plot

An infectious virus has spread worldwide, killing most of the population. Two brothers, Brian and Danny, along with Brian's girlfriend Bobby and Danny's friend Kate, head to Turtle Beach in the southwestern United States, a secluded beach motel where they believe they can wait for the viral pandemic to die out and eventually start a new life. To help them survive, they follow a set of rules created by Brian.

On their way to the beach, the group encounter survivor Frank and his infected daughter Jodie, whose vehicle has run out of fuel. The four escape from Frank when he attacks them but their car breaks down and they are forced to help Frank and Jodie so they can use his vehicle. At Frank's insistence, they travel to a nearby high school where a serum for the pandemic is rumored to have been developed. Upon arriving, Frank, Brian, Danny, and Kate discover that the serum does not work, and the last remaining doctor is preparing to euthanize a group of infected children and himself. Meanwhile, Bobby is infected by Jodie and hides her infection from the others. Frank is later forced to bring Jodie to a portable toilet, giving Brian the opportunity to leave them behind and take their vehicle.

The group then stops at a hotel, which, unknown to them, is being used as a base by armed survivalists. When the survivalists return, they ambush the group and declare their intent to keep the girls. Forcing Bobby and Kate to disrobe to check them for infection, the survivalists discover that Bobby is infected and order them away. With Bobby's infection revealed to the rest of the group, Brian forces her to leave.

As they run low on fuel, Brian kills two women to siphon their vehicle but suffers a gunshot wound in the process. While treating his brother's injury, Danny discovers that Brian is infected, from having previously kissed Bobby. That night, Danny attempts to leave Brian behind but Brian takes the keys to their vehicle. Determined to not die alone from the virus, Brian refuses to surrender the keys and urges Danny to kill him. Left with no other option, Danny shoots Brian to death. Danny and Kate reach Turtle Beach the next morning, but Danny realizes that without his brother, the place that had seemed so special to them as kids is now empty.

Cast

Additionally, Josh Berry, Tim D. Janis, Dale Malley, and Dylan Kenin portray the survivalists. LeAnne Lynch and Jan Cunningham play the women who encounter the group while low on fuel.

Production

Filmed in New Mexico and Texas in late 2006, Carriers was not released by Paramount Vantage until September 2009, following the success of Pine's appearance in Star Trek, released earlier in 2009.[3][4]

Release

Carriers was released on September 4, 2009, in United States cinemas.[5] The DVD followed on December 29, 2009.[6]

Box office

It grossed $908,000 in the United States and $5,802,422 worldwide.[1]

Reception

Carriers received mixed to positive reviews and holds a 68% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 37 reviews. The film was praised for its story, theme and acting performances, with criticism focused towards its ending.[7]

Rob Nelson of Variety wrote, "Put into extremely limited release by Paramount Vantage after spending years in studio lockdown, Carriers has moments of genuinely communicable horror and thus deserves better than a de facto theatrical quarantine." Paul Chambers from CNN Radio said, "A little more realistic than a zombie flick. Some renegade virus could make the world a 'survival of the fittest' ordeal. A very interesting story with some nice reveals". Charles Cassady from Common Sense Media said: "Gloom, not thrills, in sci-fi drama of worldwide plague."[8]

Awards and nominations

Kiernan Shipka was nominated for 'Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress' at the Young Artist Awards (2010).[9]

References
  1. Carriers at Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  2. Chris Sawin (October 1, 2020). "Carriers: Why The Pandemic Movie Is More Important 11 Years Later". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  3. Chrissinger, Craig W. (September 2009). "Carriers of the wasteland". Fangoria (286). New York. p. 32.
  4. "Carriers". HorrorMovies.ca. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  5. Uncle Creepy (December 7, 2009). "Exclusive Clip: Carriers". Dread Central. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  6. Uncle Creepy (November 3, 2009). "Carriers Carried to DVD this December". Dread Central. Archived from the original on November 5, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  7. "Carriers (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  8. Carriers on Rotten Tomatoes, Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved September 16, 2011
  9. 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved May 1, 2012
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