''Alien Cargo'' is a 1999

science fiction film Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar ...

directed by

Mark Haber Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Finn ...

and starring

Jason London Jason Paul London (born November 7, 1972) is an American actor, known for his roles as Randall "Pink" Floyd in director Richard Linklater's film '' Dazed and Confused'' (1993), as Jesse in '' The Rage: Carrie 2'' (1999) and as Rick Rambis in '' O ...

, Missy Crider, Elizabeth Alexander and

Alan Dale Alan Hugh Dale (born 6 May 1947) is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale enjoyed theatre and rugby. After retiring from the sport, he took on a number of occupations, before deciding to become a professional actor at age 27. Dale subsequentl ...

. In the film, a space-cargo transport ship is attacked by an unknown alien life form that manipulates all organic life into releasing their inner evil psyche.

Plot

After months of hyper-sleep aboard the cargo transport ship ''Solar System Shipping Vessel No.17'' (SSS-17), two crew members awaken - Christopher 'Chris' McNiel (Jason London) and Theta Kaplan (Missy Crider). They discover that they've been awakened from hyper-sleep, by the ship's computer, almost ten months past their scheduled time, as something has gone terribly wrong on board. The ship's internal systems are badly damaged, they have almost no fuel and their position is some way off the

ecliptic The ecliptic or ecliptic plane is the orbital plane of the Earth around the Sun. From the perspective of an observer on Earth, the Sun's movement around the celestial sphere over the course of a year traces out a path along the ecliptic again ...

. They slowly realize that the vessel's first shift probably killed each other and caused the ship's desolation but, as of yet, they don't know why. They calculate that they have only nine hours of life-support power left and then it will fail. With the help of the ship's log they discover a space probe that one of the crew of the first shift brought on board. They then find a strange substance and begin to analyze it. Soon after the discovery of the probe and the substance they start to argue, which quickly escalates into violence. They then try to kill each other in a running struggle throughout the damaged ship. Meanwhile, the crew of a nearby deep-space research ship following a comet and which has been alerted to their predicament evaluate if they can attempt a rescue. Trapped in the freezing cargo hold, a near

hypothermic Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe h ...

Kaplan regains her senses and realises that the strange substance must be a biological agent which induces

psychosis Psychosis is a condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations, among other features. Additional symptoms are incoherent speech and behavior ...

but becomes inert at low body temperatures. Based upon this information the ship's computer suggests a drug which should cure the infection. After injecting herself with the cure, Kaplan manages to trap a still psychotic McNiel and treat him. The two then have to convince the reluctant research ship to try a rescue plan to slingshot the crew over. As they make departure preparations, they discover that the drug had only a temporary effect and that they are still infected and cannot risk contaminating the rest of the crew or their rescuers. They decide to transfer the uninfected sleepers over with minutes to spare before their sleep chambers fail. McNiel and Kaplan decide to remain with ''No.17'' as it hurtles towards the sun, to prevent future contamination. To while away the time left, they dismantle the probe and discover that it contains a canister of the blue contaminant. It is discovered that the probe was originally from Earth and they speculate that it picked up the virus in space and went on to accidentally contaminate an unknown alien race, who then sent the probe back where it came from as some kind of retaliation.

Cast

as Christopher 'Chris' McNiel *Missy Crider as Theta Kaplan *

Simon Westaway Simon Westaway (born 22 December 1958) is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Sergeant Peter "Noddy" Faithful in the crime drama series ''Phoenix'', ...

as Adam Iberra, SSS17 First Watch * Elizabeth Alexander as Rojean Page, Explorer Dolphin *

as Eichhorn, Explorer Dolphin *Warwick Young as Omer Janowitz, SSS17 First Watch *David Ross Paterson as Warren Schiedell, SSS Group Manager (as David Paterson) *Kevin Copeland as Hunt Ballard, SSS17 Sleeper *

Diana Glenn Diana Glenn (born 1974) is an Australian actress with many credits in television, film, and theatre. Early life and education Glenn has an English father, Greek mother and three siblings. She attended Melbourne Girls Grammar School and studie ...

as Leilani Griffin, SSS17 Sleeper *Theresa Wong as Yvonne Hagan, SSS17 Sleeper *Jennifer Congram as Voice of Shoshoni, SSS17 Computer / SSS Communication Central *Julian Garner as a Titan Miner *Helen Houard asEli Follette, SSS17 Sleeper *Rebecca Riggs as Meryl Leonardi, SSS17 Sleeper *Sean Dennehy as Rupert O'Day, SSS17 Sleeper

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0184197
Alien Cargo at Rotten Tomatoes
1999 films 1990s English-language films 1999 science fiction films American science fiction films Films set on spacecraft 1990s American films