CARGO (2011)

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Directed by Yan Vizinberg
Written by Yan Vizinberg
Starring Natasha Rinis, Sayed Badreya, Philip Willingham, Raul Torres

I’m all for simplistic films, especially simple horror films such as OPEN WATER and FROZEN, which take a simple concept and amp it up to galactic levels of fear. CARGO attempts to do this and is somewhat successful, mainly because of some noteworthy performances by its two main stars, Natasha Rinis & Sayed Badreya.

Natasha, a Russian girl (Natasha Rinis), dreams of being a model in New York City and hires someone to take her across the Mexican border to fulfill those dreams. Soon, though, it’s pretty apparent that this dream has turned into a nightmare as her passport is taken away and she is stuffed into the back of a cargo van in handcuffs. Sayed Badreya, known for roles in IRON MAN, YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, and THE DICTATOR, plays the driver of the cargo van who knows better than to ask questions and is just trying to get money to help bring his family from overseas himself. The film follows both Natasha and the driver on the long terrifying trip from Mexico to New York.

As far as conveying the fear that Natasha is experiencing, the film excels. Though other slave trade films have been made, this one is small scale, focusing on one victim and her plight. It also develops a nice dichotomy between Natasha and her driver as they develop a sort of twisted relationship as the miles pass. Sayed Badreya has been seen before, but this is one of those rare films that allows a tertiary actor the chance to shine, and shine he does. Despite his despicable actions, Badreya’s character is left with no choice but to be a driver for very evil men. This crisis of conscience is written all over his face as he treats his prisoner with care at first, and after she is forced to attack him to escape, the frustration is in his eyes at the thought of not completing his job.

The film does tend to get repetitious, and it feels as if filmmaker Yan Vizinberg might have run out of ideas about an hour into the film. If this were a short film, with the extended shots of the van traveling down the lonely highways (the same highway driving scene is used numerous times throughout the film) deleted, this would be a stronger work. As is, the middle forty minutes drag a bit with most of the action settling at the beginning and the very end with what feels like filler in between.

That said, Yan Vizinberg developed two very interesting characters here. CARGO takes a very small concept and stretches it a bit too far, but is worth a view for the great performances by Rinis (who has a real spark of an upcoming star) and especially Badreya, who deserves to be given meatier roles given the depth he was able to exude in this performance.