Cargo

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Cargo is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,864 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch Martin Freeman work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Cargo is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The plotting gives Cargo its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. After being infected in the wake of a violent pandemic and with only 48 hours to live, a father struggles to find a new home for his baby daughter. Martin Freeman and Simone Landers lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2017. Cargo is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Cargo will keep you hooked. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Martin Freeman's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.