Carriers (2009)

[5]

Chris Pine, Lou Taylor Pucci (Thumbsucker), Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly), and Emily VanCamp (Everwood) roam the empty western United States after a plague has killed most of the population. They do their best to avoid desperate stragglers, but have a harder time not turning on each other when the disease finally catches up with them. Carriers is well acted and captures a compelling post-apocalyptic atmosphere with its abandoned locations and vast desert scenery. Some moments of levity and humor might have made the characters and their relationships more engaging. I don’t mind a joyless, slow, impending doom sort of movie, especially when it underlines the dark side of human nature. I’m less indifferent about the adversarial brother relationship between Pine and Pucci that gets a little overwrought toward the end. Christopher Meloni (Wet Hot American Summer) makes the most of a supporting role.