Carriers

A viral pandemic has swept the world, leaving few people untouched and making every encounter with another survivor a risk. Four young friends set out across the American West in a car, heading for a remote beach on the Gulf of Mexico where they hope to wait out the outbreak in relative safety. Their plan falls apart when the vehicle breaks down on a deserted stretch of road, forcing them to deal with other travellers whose motives are unclear and with the strain the journey places on their own relationships. What follows is a struggle to keep moving and stay uninfected rather than a fight against the disease itself.

Carriers was released in 2009 and runs 84 minutes. It is the first feature directed by Àlex Pastor and David Pastor, who also wrote the screenplay and went on to make The Last Days, The Occupant and Bird Box Barcelona. The cast is led by Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo and Emily VanCamp, with Christopher Meloni and Kiernan Shipka appearing as a father and daughter the group meets. Anthony Bregman, Robert Velo and Ray Angelic produced.

The film took about 6 million dollars worldwide, a modest return for a wide release. On IMDb it holds 5.9 out of 10 from roughly 53,000 votes, and on TMDB 6 out of 10 from around 1,500 votes. A critics' rating of 5.6 out of 10 from 37 reviews places professional opinion below the larger audience sample on IMDb, though neither figure suggests strong enthusiasm.