From Outbreak to The Andromeda Strain, I AM Legend and the Resident Evil series to some degree, we have seen an assortment of end-of-the-world-by-a-deadly-virus flicks. Each has its own flavor. Outbreak was a breakneck thriller. Andromeda Strain was chock full of creeping, intelligent, suspense. I AM Legend dealt with the aftermath. And Resident Evil was about Zombies – an angle thankfully set aside by Contagion.

During Contagion the imminent end of the world looms near each passing minute, but never does it wander in the drivel of chestnut science fiction. Instead the film finds a sweet spot by keeping it real – in the literal sense of the world.

The narrative is simply told by director Steven Soderbergh, whose bid to create his own individual visual style of late is a mix of overblown highlights and sharp and heavily contrasted images. Needless to say that this works somewhat in the film’s favor, because the story weaved by screenwriter Scott Z. Burns is nonconformist to say the least. Contagion sticks to the events and lets them pan out as a slow-paced news report. Telling different stories yet never fully immersing the audience in either of them. However, the distance is what makes it uniquely appealing.

The film doesn’t set out to pull your emotional strings, but it still manages to do that, however briefly. Sometimes – and this is one of those times – brief works better. — Farheen Jawaid