A fictional docudrama about a "lone gunman" who purposefully infects himself with smallpox and leads to the deaths of millions of people worldwide. Narrated by Brian Cox.
- Apocalyptic Log: The video diary used by the English family, especially as the son uses it and he's the only one to die. However, many of the news clips also form this.
- The Cassandra: One of the scientists tell them that they have to quarantine New York City. If only they had listened, they would have saved millions of lives.
- The Dead Guy Did It: The Patient Zero who purposefully loosed smallpox upon New York City at rush hour, killing millions, is found weeks later having died by suicide via an OD on the day he started the outbreak and led to the near-collapse of society after a massive manhunt to find him. He is never identified nor are his reasons.
- Death of a Child: Good God, so much. Watching your son die of smallpox while you are powerless to stop them. Having to choose between giving the vaccine to yourself or your child.
- Deadline News: The docudrama gives this feeling, even though it technically starts from a point where the pandemic has finished.
- Posthumous Character: The son of the English family who films the experience dies, although he's technically the main character of that plot thread.
- The Plague: Specifically, smallpox.
- Riddle for the Ages: Who the patient zero is and what he wanted is never made explicitly clear.
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Retroactive Recognition: That's Sterling K. Brown as one of the doctors. - Spreading Disaster Map Graphic: Many are visible throughout the film.
- The Unreveal: Who is the mysterious patient zero? It's never answered, nor is where he came from or what he wanted (explicitly).
