Contagion film review

Contagion Theatrical Poster

Steven Soderbergh’s latest spin on disease and technology eerily infects its way to the audience members.

            An all-star cast – which I will not even bother to go in-depth with – does not ruin the film, fortunately. A film that generally boasts star-power may lead audience members to ask that question of whether or not the film’s substance is good enough for a  “less-appealing” cast to carry on. Apart from this, I cannot point out any more positive aspects of Contagion.

            The film begins with a woman who is obviously up to no good with a possibly ex boyfriend of hers (I’m not going to tell you too much about it). However, from the start, we hear her cough. Uh oh, she got infected.

"Stay right there. Do not touch anyone, speak to anyone, or do anything."

            The remainder of the film follows multiple subplots of different character’s accounts of the year as this epidemic disease becomes pandemic.

            It’s important to look at Contagion as not just a disease or apocalyptic film, but rather, as a film that portrays our modern society. The film addresses technology and its capability to spread news across this entire earth in just a millisecond. 

This is more complicated than some disease.

            The disease particularly serves as an allegory to show how society would act if a situation like this were to happen. It sometimes brings the worst out of people, but it can bring the best in people, too. As the film continues to build and society falls apart, the ending assumes that it almost didn’t happen. Maybe it’s suggesting that we overreact to something before it’s even that bad? (hint, hint)

            Contagion is a slick, well-executed film that boasts an incredible cast with wonderful performances. It’s one of the more important films about today’s society. I highly recommend Contagion.

4.5/5