Contagion is one of the best epidemic/pandemic films that was released at the time. The film focuses on the virus alone, trying to track down where it came from, and how it was passed along. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this film strayed away from the usual focusing on one family’s hardships, and onto the overall state and effort being put into creating a vaccine for it.

It features a star studded cast but despite their names, not one of them had a significant screen time than the others. It perfectly shows how a virus can be transmitted via the smallest minute things like handing a coin, or pressing a button. Contagion went trending worldwide when COVID-19 hit, despite being made in 2011, it’s likeness to COVID-19 was scary. Though when comparing it to real life epidemics, Contagion is like a modern Black Death, with death toll reaching 50 million and upwards.

People will do whatever they can to capitalize on the moment. Jude Law’s character, an internet blogger/journalist, some would say that his character was a filler and a distraction. In my opinion, his character was a good display of how internet personalities can sway the general public, and even go up against the government. It added that extra bump on the road to the creation of the vaccine. Chin Han displayed an opposite trait to Law’s character, at first it would seem like an act of terrorism, but rather as an act of desperation. Some of the characters involved are genuine philanthropists and would stop at nothing to save mankind, even at the cost of their own lives.

Cliff Martinez was able to come up with music that’s very appropriate with the theme of the film, it gives off the emotion of dread and the fear of what’s to come. Successfully conveying the questions of “When will this stop?” “What happens now?” (The full album is up on Spotify.) The whole vibe of the playlist reminded me of the music in Plague Inc., that was a fun game to play.

This is like a cleaner, more focused storyline and just overall a better film than Outbreak (1995) which has a similar plot. The symptoms here are much more forgiving than that of Outbreak’s.

Overall, Contagion delivers and it’s scary how accurate it was. Imagine having The Black Death happening now, just the thought of it sent shivers down my spine. If you’re looking for an Epidemic/Pandemic based film that shows the downfall and efforts being put in to developing a cure, and not just focusing on the drama of one family, this is the one for you. No exceptions, people will die, but humanity will continue to exist.