Pontypool
Pontypool
NR | 29 May 2009 (USA)
Pontypool Trailers

When disc jockey Grant Mazzy reports to his basement radio station in the Canadian town of Pontypool, he thinks it's just another day at work. But when he hears reports of a virus that turns people into zombies, Mazzy barricades himself in the radio booth and tries to figure out a way to warn his listeners about the virus and its unlikely mode of transmission.

Reviews
Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
goldenarrow-99823 "God bug" - mad scientist Dr Mendes Wow! What a pleasant surprise this was.Or rather, what a disturbing, unsettling and downright creepy surprise it was.Never have I seen a 'zombie' film with such little violence and blood. In fact I can't recall any actual violence that I saw, other than poor Laurel-Ann trying too hard to get close to Mazzy. Even when Grant & Sydney have to beat one of the 'conversationalists' to death, we only see them stamping away from just above the victim.Interesting that they are to be called 'conversationalists' rather than 'zombies' according to director Bruce McDonald;"There are three stages to this virus. The first stage is you might begin to repeat a word. Something gets stuck. And usually it's words that are terms of endearment like sweetheart or honey. The second stage is your language becomes scrambled and you can't express yourself properly. The third stage you become so distraught at your condition that the only way out of the situation you feel, as an infected person, is to try and chew your way through the mouth of another person." Interview with Bruce McDonald I accept this but only to a certain extent. From stage one to two it's a credible step. But from scrambled words to eating faces is one biiiiiiiiiig leap!As is often the case with a good film, it got me thinking. The idea that a virus (or whatever you want to call it) can be transmitted through words is really novel but how did it originate....?Wonder if it's not biological/chemical weapons that whoever is the US's current number one enemy possesses but a toxic vocabulary?Or maybe nobody has yet mastered it and the Pentagon are working on it. They will have me 'removed' for going public and blowing the whistle on their little scam.
targetlad72 I know this film is old, only by a few years but definitely worth watching. I only found out about this last night. I downloaded this overnight & had to watch this when alone, my boyfriend won't even watch The Walking Dead. Any horror stuff he makes me watch when he's gone to bed. I started viewing this film not paying it much attention. After five minutes I was hooked. The whole film is almost set in the one place, a radio station. Our main characters are the talk radio DJ & his producer. With just the producers assistant helping the action comes mainly in to the station via calls in. The weather guy, a policeman, town residents contact them and they all try & workout what is happening in Pontypool. Over the course of the film they gradually start to put together a picture of events. Again the Canadian mindset is just as messed up as the Australians and thank the Lord they are.
DogFilmCritic Thanks to a friend that recommended this movie I got to see how amazing this underrated film is. As the horror genera plots are very saturated, this movie takes a new angle.I had no expectations at all nor did I read what it was about ,I saw it and it blew my mind, this movie feels more like an intellectual film rather than a simple horror movie as it makes you think and use you imagination, a lot of it is tell rather than show as you have to paint images in your mind to get an idea of what's going on, it builds more in suspense and tension instead of shocking visuals and gore. Think of a cross between Orson Wells war of the worlds and George Romero night of the living dead. It can feel claustrophobic at times as most of it takes place in a basement with a blizzard going out side, the cold tones and the dark surroundings with a creepy atmosphere are all over the place it keeps you wanting to find out what's out there.My explanation or trying to understand what's the virusThe virus is part of that world, is an invisible entity and dose undeniably exist, the characters are aware of it. A event just happened and we will never understand it, it's a phenomenon if it defies logic then we disbelieve in its existence, accepting things we will never fully know the answer it's unquestionably, it's simply just a fact. In actual history there's what we know and there's a lot of it we don't understand
sol- Originally conceived as a film with no visuals (an idea later abandoned), this claustrophobic thriller focus on a maverick radio talk show host who continues to keep broadcasting while outside reports suggest that a deadly virus has infected his small town. 'Pontypool' has gained a reputation as a unique spin on the zombie genre, but it is actually far closer to the likes of 'The Crazies' than most zombie movies as the virus interferes with speech and causes its victims to become aggressive as their speech becomes incoherent. It is a novel idea, and while the film leaves open several unanswered questions in terms of how words become infected and how the infection spreads, it is creepy to sit through all the same. Claude Foisy's music is appropriately disquieting, the attention to sound is great and the filmmakers use the single location well. Especially remarkable is how director Bruce McDonald relies on 'the implied'. We see little violence, with it left up to our imagination when we hear horrific outsider reports from a "helicopter" journalist and listeners phoning in. Not all of the plot developments work (such as the convenient introduction of a doctor to explain the virus), but generally speaking, the film sends a tingle down the spine regardless of how much one understands all of it. Stephen McHattie is also excellent as the spunky radio host who gradually progresses from projecting scepticism to genuine fear.