Extreme post-apocalyptic thriller that will either heal you or destroy you

Author: Robert Skuch Published 18 seconds ago

One of the common pitfalls of post-apocalyptic thrillers is trying to do too much at once because there are so many angles to consider. this mad max The franchise works because of the dense, folklore-driven world-building we’re introduced to as a small group of people set out in the wasteland in search of answers. this 28 days later The movie handles this very well too. We understand what is happening globally and then address it locally.

2025 Not containedDespite its many advantages, it can be difficult to maintain this balance. The result is a tonally inconsistent film that I wish had landed better, as the potential is clearly there.

Find family in the apocalypse

Promoted as a zombie horror drama, Not contained A more personal story is told through the eyes of Dan (played by writer-director Molly Nelson). Dan, a drifter who seems immune to the zombie virus that is destroying society, eventually stumbles upon a clever house inhabited by two children, Jack (Jack Nelson) and Brooke (Brooke Nelson).

Their mother, known simply as “The Woman” (Nicole Nielsen), works for Homeland Security and is desperately searching for a cure because Jack is carrying a latent version of the infection.

Initially just looking for shelter, Dan slowly becomes a surrogate father to Jack and Brooke. Women are also happy to have him around, mostly because he can time amazing times on the treadmill, which also doubles as a power source for the house.

Jack handcuffs himself to the bed before going to bed because he occasionally turns into a bloodthirsty zombie in his sleep and needs to wait out the attacks to avoid harming his family. He also sets elaborate traps in the backyard and spends his time studying captured zombies, which initially disgusts Dan, who doesn’t yet realize that he and Jack have more in common than either of them is willing to admit.

B’s story

at the same time, Not contained More conflict arises when militia leader Brett Carson (Peter O’Meara) refuses to leave the estate as he searches for his missing daughter Melanie (Courtney Bryce Turk). The entire plotline feels largely unnecessary, as it neither helps nor meaningfully undermines the dynamics within the house where Dan and his family live.

The limited value these scenes offer comes mostly from comic relief, especially when Brett talks to a cop who is visibly growing more concerned with each conversation, as if silently thinking, “Man, you need to get home before you get killed.”

Speaking of Comic Relief, Not contained The dynamic established between Dan, Jake, Brooke and the women earns it real points. Dan has a rough exterior and doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who likes fooling around. But when Brooke offers him her hairpin, he accepts her instantly, just out of kindness. These subtle moments are both funny and disarming, and they speak volumes about Dan’s character. The world is literally ending, and no one is obligated to be cheerful if they don’t want to.

Not contained It ended up leaving a lot behind, and that’s because it tried to think globally and locally at the same time. If the film had committed to being a bottle story centered on the house and its inhabitants, I think it would have landed much cleaner. It just tries to do too much at once when the original survival story is already compelling in its own right. My most enjoyable moments stem directly from this central dynamic. The idea that the infected child might hold the key to a cure, while the family braces itself to weather the proverbial storm, is strong enough that it doesn’t need any distracting asides.

Not contained Stream for free on Tubi.