Diseases come in all shapes and sizes, whether it be bacteria-based or caused by a virus. The human race has paid it debt to some while other still continue to cause death every day. We see it in today’s papers, and across the United States right now we are dealing with an outbreak of Swine flu. These unknown mutations of the current viruses and bacteria that make us sick have been a big subject for many horror and science fiction films for decades. Recently, we have been introduced to films in which the virus not only kills the person it infects, but turns them mad and violent. Unfortunately, with Carriers, we do not get the violent infected human we got in movies like 28 Days Later and Undead, but we do get a film similar to films like Cabin Fever.
Carriers is the story of four friends in a post-apocalyptic time where a lethal virus has infected millions of people and is spreading fast. The friends are looking for refuge in a sterile environment where the virus has yet to hit. On their search, they meet up with a father and daughter who both have the virus, but have heard a radio broadcast saying that there is a cure. During their travels, they learn that there is more going on than they know, and it just may cost them their lives.
There have been so many films with the exact same plot that have been released in recent memory, and all seem to be six with one, a half dozen of the other. The same can be said for Carriers, although the film does have a decent script with a story that at least grabs hold of the viewer from start to finish. While the script has a decent story, the character development is severely lacking. The character are basic generic disaster movie characters, all of them boring and disposable at the hand of the virus. I could not relate to any of them.
The film has some widely popular actors, such as Chris Pine from the recent Star Trek film, Piper Perabo of Coyote Ugly fame, and Christopher Meloni of Television’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The acting is decent, but since the characters are not very interesting, the actors have to make due with what they have and try their best to bring these mundane characters to life. The film does, however, have some good production value. The film’s settings are such basic places as roads and buildings, yet the great, yet conservative use of make-up effects do the film justice. It is not to over the top with its gore, but it has the perfect mix of blood in necessary scenes. The film relies on the less-is-more philosophy to get its point across, but with the good editing job and the director’s use of shots, the film is put together very well.
Overall, Carriers is not bad film, but it does have its flaws in story and characters. The film, rated PG-13, does not heavily rely on gore to get by, but it does pack a punch and does have a few suspenseful scenes. The DVD is bare bones, containing just the film in widescreen with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Carriers does come off as a made-for-television film, and while it has its up and downs, there is an audience for films such as this one. If you enjoyed Cabin Fever and Outbreak, this one may be right up you ally. Carrier is not as well-produced as those films. While not horrible, the film is unmemorable, and I cannot recommend it as a good way to spend your time.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
