It’s no secret that horror films are one of the most difficult genres of film to create effectively. Though it’s easy for films to be scary through cheap scares, it takes far more time and consideration to create a scary flick that actually resonates with the audience.

Generally, horror films don’t impress very many because they lean more on the content of the story than the thoughts and emotions of the characters. That said, historically, horror movies that built up their characters alongside the plot line, were better received by viewers than horror films that were heavy in jump scares.

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There are several notable horror movies that have received credit for creating this level of horror story, though they are the minority in the horror genre. Some examples of popular horror films that took this approach are A Haunting in Connecticut, The Blair Witch Project, and Mama. Of course, there are also some films that told scary stories in this fashion that didn’t receive as much attention and among them is the 2017 zombie horror film, Cargo.

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Despite receiving decent ratings and mostly positive reviews, not a lot of people are aware of the Netflix film. It features beautiful cinematography, a fantastic performance by Martin Freeman, and of course, a storyline that goes far beyond simple jump scares. This movie weaves together a fictional threat with realistic emotional responses to stir up feelings of fear that connect with the viewer in a more personal way than is traditionally seen in the horror genre.

Much like the written works of Poe, the storyline in this movie is both creepy and contemplative of life. Because of how emotions are captured in the story and through Freeman’s performance, the audience is able to connect with them– despite their personal experiences– in a way that makes them feel more present and invested in the story.

It follows a family living in Australia, amidst a zombie epidemic, as they try to survive the outbreak, a lack of resources, and the many people fending for themselves during the crisis. Once the mother dies after infecting the father, Andy, he is left to protect his infant daughter alone, knowing his death is soon to come, and he is forced to search out someone to take care of his daughter. Additionally, we see the perspective of a young aboriginal girl whose father has been turned, as she has a spiritual theory for saving him– bringing a fresh perspective to the zombie-saving trope that’s commonly seen in these zombie films.

The plot line alone is unique and interesting, but it is the emotions and dynamics between the characters that really make the story special. Not only do we feel the fear and pressure of the impending threat that the characters face, but we also connect to the love and sadness that they experience.

Clearly, the storyline of the movie is enough to stand out, so it is likely the film’s small budget and indie structure that have left it so overlooked. Further, there wasn’t a lot of advertising effort put into the film outside of Australia, which also explains why it isn’t very well-known. Nonetheless, it is worth the watch simply because it brings this new, fresh perspective to zombie flicks.

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The film was so successful in how it portrayed its characters that it has been likened by many to the 2009 film, The Road, which is similar in plot and tone. The way it demonstrates realistic character emotions is only the beginning of the perspective it brings to the genre, as it also features a relatively diverse cast through its Aboriginal characters. In fact, the story is dedicated to the memory of the late Aboriginal Australian singer, Gurrumul Yunupingu.

Cargo even received several Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for story, sound, and visuals. Though the movie didn’t have as much of a budget to work with as other zombie apocalypse films, it did the most with what it had. In fact, the lack of high budget features in the film seem to highlight how impressive the story, visuals and audio really are, considering what they had to work with. It is very common for zombie horror films to rely on a big budget to make the zombies look like real walking, decaying bodies, but as a result, the story usually suffers because so much effort goes toward effects. Certainly, that type of zombie flick offers a completely different experience to viewers than Cargo does.

Though both kinds of zombie horror films are appropriate for certain times and certain audiences, the approach that Cargo takes is far more likely to resonate with viewers. Rather than relying entirely on adrenaline-inducing jump scares and visuals, the story walks viewers through the concept in a much more personal fashion. This approach seems to pull the viewers into the story in a way that makes it seem more real, causing the emotions and concepts that it presents to stick around in the viewers’ minds. That said, Cargo set a new standard for zombie flicks, and should certainly be on the watch-list of every horror film fan.

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