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.
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Reviews
I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Fresh and Exciting
Am i the only one who thinks........Average?
The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
Big ideas are attempted in this somewhat odd and occasionally original take on the viral zombie outbreak. Whilst i would say the first half is close and tense the second half descends into comically absurd action. There is good acting but I was really annoyed by the character of the Dr. and the 'kill is kiss' line.
Very simple but superbly made movie. There are a lot of 'zombie' movies out there and they have a wide range. Pontypool takes it outside that range. This movie has very good twists. Not very much of a jump scare but more of a psychological scare. Without giving away any spoilers I cant say too much except that this is not your normal 'zombie movie'. The acting is done very well and cinematography is good. This is a must see.
I'll cut right to the chase — I really didn't like this movie. It just bored the hell out of me, honestly.Grant Mazzy (played by Stephen McHattie, though I really wanted it to be Hugh Laurie), former "shock jock" turned radio announcer, has an odd experience on his way into work one morning. While in the church basement studio of the local radio station, the day just gets weirder and weirder as he, along with station manager Sydney (played by Lisa Houle) and technical assistant Laurel-Ann (played by Georgina Reilly) slowly piece together their new reality — the town is being taken over by a deadly virus that is spread by the English language.I mean, I get it, it's a more metaphorical and psychological premise rather than relying on gore and action. There's no close-up shots of zombies (actually, director Bruce McDonald stresses that they are NOT zombies but in fact "conversationalists") being speared through the head or brains splattering on the nearby walls. I don't need blood and guts to enjoy a movie. But this was just no. We stopped it maybe 15 minutes from the end because I couldn't stop rolling my eyes."Your friend is sick. I've seen a lot of this lately. She doesn't know it yet, but she's hunting us." — Dr. MendezThe plot line itself wasn't lost on me. I liked the idea of the movie taking place entirely in the studio — the claustrophobic and almost surreal feeling was well done. I like the symbolism of the English language having stronger repercussions than we might like to believe. But the acting and dialogue were just stilted and awkward. Most of the interactions seemed forced and exaggerated. There were lines that just didn't belong, and others that I felt didn't match the mood or tone of what was going on. In order to carry a story that is as unorthodox as this, you need the chops to back it up, and I didn't think this movie delivered.My husband commented after that it would have been much scarier and more interesting if it had been Mazzy alone in the studio, just trying to piece together what happened on his own. I don't think the interactions between him and Sydney or Laurel-Ann really added much, and him being solo in the movie would have added to the claustrophobic feeling in a big way. Alas! There's apparently two sequels in the works so maybe I'll give one of those a watch.
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.