Rent Cargo (2009)

Excellent Science Fiction - Cargo review by GI

A spectacular, enthralling science fiction film made in Switzerland and mightily impressive it is too. Set in the 23rd century where the Earth has become uninhabitable and the surviving population live on overcrowded and epidemic ridden satellite cities. The dream of everyone is to be able to buy a ticket to the planet Rhea. Laura (Anna Katharina Shwarbroh), a doctor, takes a job on a huge cargo vessel in order to earn the money to join her sister on Rhea. The journey to the destination, a space station, takes eight years there and back and for the most part the crew remain in cyrosleep with each having an eight month shift awake to maintain the ship's systems. On Laura's shift she begins to suspect a stowaway is aboard and awakens the crew. Soon strange things begin to happen. A great story that has mystery, intrigue and unravels into a really interesting idea. The effects are fantastic and film aficionados will see the influence of other sci-fi films including Alien (1979), The Matrix (1999) and Event Horizon (1997) in the look, style and elements of the storyline. This is bold, ambitious film and once that has slipped under the radar probably because it's a European production. But don't be put off by that because this is an excellent film and well worth your time.