Pontypool (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Randy T

  
  In a genre that's overexposed, overworked and often overrated <i>Pontypool</i> still manages to be original and intelligent.

• Unknown H

  
  This movie proves just how spectacularly good horror movies can be. Not your standard zombie apocalypse nonsense, Pontypool proves that what you don't see is a million times more frightening that what you do see. Intelligent and original it spins the tale of three people working… More
  This movie proves just how spectacularly good horror movies can be. Not your standard zombie apocalypse nonsense, Pontypool proves that what you don't see is a million times more frightening that what you do see. Intelligent and original it spins the tale of three people working at a radio station when a virus outside begins to turn people into zombie-esque creatures. They soon realised that language is transmitting the virus and systematically begin to "un-understand" the words they know in order to save their lives. With an intoxicating start and smack-you-in-the-face ending, with all the delicious bits in between this movie in short ROCKED.

• Drew S

  
  Pontypool is a neat, unusual little movie, a scarcely-known cinephile treat that the patient and the offbeat will find rather rewarding. By far its most interesting conceit is the premise, centered on a virus that is transmitted linguistically. This allows Bruce McDonald and original… More
  Pontypool is a neat, unusual little movie, a scarcely-known cinephile treat that the patient and the offbeat will find rather rewarding. By far its most interesting conceit is the premise, centered on a virus that is transmitted linguistically. This allows Bruce McDonald and original book author Tony Burgess to toy with words and expression in some really unique ways; a lot of the film's novelty comes with its constant reconstruction of how sound and comprehension works, and the nature of the virus is so unique that this really doesn't have to play by any "zombie" film rules. (It's worth mentioning that the infected folks in Pontypool aren't actually zombies, but they're its closest horror analogue, so whatever.) Making the deadliness of sound more imposing still are the extremely small, cramped interiors. The movie takes place in one location with only a few rooms, and it uses its limitations in surprisingly clever ways. Though a trained eye will recognize the film as low-budget, it's sharply filmed, (usually) conscientiously acted and carefully assembled; it never really FEELS low-budget. Subtle suggestive touches, such as the running commentary from the man in the "helicopter," stand in handsomely for expensive special effects, and on the rare occasions Pontypool does splurge it looks pretty awesome. That said, I felt its biggest struggle was an inconsistent grasp on tone. Frankly, I don't think the movie is incredibly effective as a horror. Tension definitely accumulates, but the rhythm between the buildups and the breakdowns feels uneven. There's a great deal of menace present in the setting and situation alone, but I think ultimately Pontypool was not concerned with being a "scary movie." Furthering this is the presence of certain elements such as the doctor character, who creates an uncomfortable tonal shift in the middle of the film. His performance is unnaturally excessive and doesn't really gel with the rest of the cast. Grant Mazzy, memorably inhabited by Stephen McHattie, is just as large a character, but so skillfully vocalized and performed that when he's over the top, you know it's because Grant is an over the top person. I also had problems with the end of the film, a rather sickly and unprecedented stab at the military, presented through an uninteresting monologue and complete with a disastrous satirical-patriotic tune. This isn't to say that there's not comedy throughout Pontypool, but as a closing note these elements feel inorganic and the film left me wishing it had played its ending a little straighter. It's a sadly shaky grace note for what is, all told, one of the most original and well-plotted horror films to come down the tube in a long time.

• Cynthia S

  
  Hahahaha. Pretty cool! Not your typical disgusting gorey Zombie movie. It has very little gorey stuff, actually (but just enough to make me happy). This was more a psychological horror film. I can't really call them Zombies, cuz I guess by definition Zombies have to rise from the… More
  Hahahaha. Pretty cool! Not your typical disgusting gorey Zombie movie. It has very little gorey stuff, actually (but just enough to make me happy). This was more a psychological horror film. I can't really call them Zombies, cuz I guess by definition Zombies have to rise from the dead. These are in fact infected humans. AND we don't so much see them all the time, but get to hear over cell phones, etc. the horror that is happening. Nice twist

• Arash X

  
  Finally a horror movie that doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence, not only the premise is original & thought-provoking but also the film's approach is refreshing & ingenious, We see only a smart part of what's happening & hear the most which doubles… More
  Finally a horror movie that doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence, not only the premise is original & thought-provoking but also the film's approach is refreshing & ingenious, We see only a smart part of what's happening & hear the most which doubles the effect, And of course the film owes a lot to Mchattie (I used to watch Cold Squad series only because of him) & Briar's great perfs (& she is charming too), There are a few ridiculous moments but I can't complain

• Lewis C

  
  "Do you really want to provide a genocide with elevator music?" This is certainly one of the most unique movies that I've seen this year. There's no doubt about that. I give Pontypool massive props for putting it's own spin on the zombie/virus genre. We see… More
  "Do you really want to provide a genocide with elevator music?" This is certainly one of the most unique movies that I've seen this year. There's no doubt about that. I give Pontypool massive props for putting it's own spin on the zombie/virus genre. We see the story unfold through the eyes of a few people at a radio station, and we get no more information than they do. They don't have many answers, and neither do we. The story started off pretty slow, but there are some seriously tense and creepy moments that happen as we hear what's going on in the outside world. Eventually, the radio station itself is no longer the safe place it initially seemed to be. virtually none of the violence and little of the gore happens on-screen, but it all makes sense within the scenario. Pontypool's main weakness is that when the answers do start coming, they're a little too ambitious and "different". I'm all for variety and anything that dares to be more creative than the standard old zombies, but the story here gets more muddled as it goes on, and the explanations aren't really communicated clearly. Perhaps we were expected to read between the lines, and I had a nagging feeling that some knowledge of the political situation in the part of Canada where this movie was set would have given me a bit more clarity. I give Pontypool an A- for effort and originality, but a C- for execution. With a few changes to the story, this could have been brilliant. As it stands, it's flawed, but still worth watching if you like your horror low-key and you're looking for something other than the same old thing.

• Jeff "

  
  Pontypool is a definite breath of fresh air in the horror genre. In a period where remakes are king, from time to time there will be a film thats very original. That where Pontypool comes in. A slow building moving, Pontypool will certainly be dismissed as too slow, it is, but it… More
  Pontypool is a definite breath of fresh air in the horror genre. In a period where remakes are king, from time to time there will be a film thats very original. That where Pontypool comes in. A slow building moving, Pontypool will certainly be dismissed as too slow, it is, but it makes the tension and suspense build up to an awesome climax. A film that delivers something different, this will probably appeal to old fans of horror who actually know what a horror film is. Pontypool is not a film for today's generation as it's not a remake, so if you only like horror remakes pass up on this one, because it has something that your precious remakes don't have, originality.

• Tsubaki S

  
  A clever and smart horror movie, thus, not the kind of movie for most "horror fans" out there. Just check some reviews ("it's a zombie movie with no zombies, DERP!) For the rest of us who are tired and sick of every new insipid zombie movie, every stupid… More
  A clever and smart horror movie, thus, not the kind of movie for most "horror fans" out there. Just check some reviews ("it's a zombie movie with no zombies, DERP!) For the rest of us who are tired and sick of every new insipid zombie movie, every stupid "scary" movie using a handheld camera, and every other derivation of the same slasher film Pontypool is psychological horror heaven. Now, the movie is not without it's flaws, you could say it's trying to chew way too many topics at the same time. But first of all, this is a truly atmospheric movie. Sure, there are some common places, almost right from the beginning there's the usual shot of somebody slamming his/her hand on a car window, among other stuff. Neverless, the movie builds up tension thanks to it's inventive nature, and because it actually believes the audience has a working brain, and let's the viewer use their mind to expand the experience. We never see most of what is happening, but we hear it, and it's far more chilling that way, and way more rewarding. Instead of showing us the old tired scenes of devastation we are left with just the screams of the dying, the sense of an inminent death approaching at almost every turn. A film like this one needs strong performances, and well written dialogues. Pontypool has both, with some gaps here and there. A doctor goes in full 50s monster movie/scientific explanation, complete with dramatic acting. Neverless, Pontypool remains an effective psychological horror piece, and a very well made comentary on the media, the deformation of language, and how this corruption of information can become a "virus" and infect people. Making them repeating words without even knowing the meaning behind the words. In this era of viral marketing, internet memes and what not this resonates a lot.

• Bruce B

  
  This movie is a riot as far a zombie movies are concern. Stephen McHattie, plays an outstanding part as a burn out DJ. The town of Pontypool was a viral infection that is spread by words and turns everybody into flesh eating zombies. The movie is enjoyable until the last 20 minutes… More
  This movie is a riot as far a zombie movies are concern. Stephen McHattie, plays an outstanding part as a burn out DJ. The town of Pontypool was a viral infection that is spread by words and turns everybody into flesh eating zombies. The movie is enjoyable until the last 20 minutes when it takes a complete turn in lets finish this thing, it completely dies but until that point worth 4 1/2 stars

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Shut Up Or Die"</i> A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> In a day and… More
  <i>"Shut Up Or Die"</i> A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> In a day and age where the horror and suspense genres are polluted by gratuitous violence and gore, Pontypool is a breath of fresh air. Pontypool, a small town located in Ontario, falls victim to a virus for which environmental stimuli are not the trigger; words are. Those affected are compelled to kill others and, in general, the infection described is zombie-like in nature. The gore and carnage, however, take place predominately offscreen. What viewers are left with is a detachment from the situation from the security of a radio station. Stories roll in, reports from other media outlets and correspondents outside of the station, and those viewing the movie are left eager for more information, empathizing with the protagonists left in the station, who are unsure whether or not the whole story is a hoax. Phenomenal performances are the highlight of this character driven piece, and viewers are left on the edge of their seats, waiting for the very poignant conclusion.

• Gordon A

  
  Interesting leftfield take on the zombie genre which hides its budgetry limitations by implying carnage and limiting the gore. The central infection idea doesn't bare close scrutiny but it does an effective job of ratcheting up the tension as it progresses.

• Dead A

  
  Overall, it was a low budget movie.

• A.D. V

  
  I think that due to the fact everyone said it was too slow and/or boring helped me prepare for it. Alot of the same people said the same thing about House of the Devil that I just watched before this and I quite enjoyed that so I decided to give it a try. Again it seems I seem to be… More
  I think that due to the fact everyone said it was too slow and/or boring helped me prepare for it. Alot of the same people said the same thing about House of the Devil that I just watched before this and I quite enjoyed that so I decided to give it a try. Again it seems I seem to be in the minority because I quite liked the claustrophobic feel and the slow build up of tension and anarchy that came through from incoming phone calls to the radio station. I guess it also helped that I've worked in a broadcast for a few years and could better identify with both the setting and the characters working in a low budget radio show. Another big plus is Stephen McHattie who creates an instantly likeable, grumpy rebellious DJ and without him I don't believe the film would have worked as well as it did considering the really out there but highly original "virus" story. And then there's the ending. The very, very post credits ending that I thought was just the icing on the cake. Many people have different opinions about what it meant and personally I think mine's the best.

• Brian D

  
  wow what a great movie,a zombie movle with hardly any zombies,sounds weired but not really.Like the blair witch project its uses one key thing your imagination and its works.Your mind is a great tool and gets a work out here.When they are describing details over the radio or trying… More
  wow what a great movie,a zombie movle with hardly any zombies,sounds weired but not really.Like the blair witch project its uses one key thing your imagination and its works.Your mind is a great tool and gets a work out here.When they are describing details over the radio or trying to get eye witness accounts about the outbreak you put yourself in there prostion and it works well.Love these kind of movies.Anyone one who is looking for a more normal zombie movie with zombies in it the maybe this is not for you.Anyone else how like that horror with differents check this little gem out. Plus just read there is a sequel due out later next yeat 2010.

• jd c

  
  The only good part of this movie were the first 10 minutes, and that's because I was sleeping. When I woke up I endured over an hour of unbearable bullshit, the kind that gives you a rash. At one point I wanted to hug the actors and tell them, "It's okay. Not many… More
  The only good part of this movie were the first 10 minutes, and that's because I was sleeping. When I woke up I endured over an hour of unbearable bullshit, the kind that gives you a rash. At one point I wanted to hug the actors and tell them, "It's okay. Not many people will see this movie." I felt bad they signed up for this crap, they seemed like nice people, and I'm sure they didn't know this movie would be an abomination. Sadly I don't know them on a personal level, so I'll just have to pray for them. Maybe they were forced into signing a contract at gunpoint by the executive producer. Another thing, the actors weren't even acting, they were half asleep like I was. Or at least it looked that way. I swear to God, it didn't seem like they were even trying, they dragged themselves along and seemed sluggish, putting no amount of energy in their performances. I think the dialogue was all improv too, because the director probably replaced the script with "Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea". And this might have worked, only if the actors actually knew the camera was rolling. Even writing a review about this movie is making me depressed. I feel like I'm in a black hole. I have sunk into catatonia and I need a bath. Pontypool will do this to you. It's rough...It's mean... It's a shit bomb. <img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/Pontypool.jpg"> "What's a zombie movie without zombies? A dull zombie movie." - New York Post

• Emily A

  
  "This is how my last relationship ended: we're not talking and I'm drunk." This is a great and really special little film. It's a really interesting and novel take on zombies, but if i go into detail it'll spoil the big plot point for you (just like it… More
  "This is how my last relationship ended: we're not talking and I'm drunk." This is a great and really special little film. It's a really interesting and novel take on zombies, but if i go into detail it'll spoil the big plot point for you (just like it was spoiled for me. Damn you, Sun media!). It brings the zombie invasion story down to a really localized and small scale and it shows you the epidemic through the eyes of maybe five people. If I made a zombie movie, it'd probably look like this. In fact, I did write a zombie movie, and when Pontypool came out, the resemblance was striking. I think that the music was an ill-fit, though. It made moments dramatic when they could have easily been comedic. In many instances indeed, it killed the comedy where it was needed. bit of a shame really. Apart from that, I really loved this film.

• Ryan M

  
  *** out of **** I was not aware that there was really a small town in Ontario, Canada called Pontypool until I saw the movie of the same name. There is also a Pontypool located in North Wales, but you know which one I'm talking about when I say that this is a Canadian horror… More
  *** out of **** I was not aware that there was really a small town in Ontario, Canada called Pontypool until I saw the movie of the same name. There is also a Pontypool located in North Wales, but you know which one I'm talking about when I say that this is a Canadian horror film. I don't suppose the Pontypool of Ontario is very populated, although it might still be lively. It's such a tiny and seldom spoken of town that one could remember the houses and local businesses by name. Or at least that's what I gather after some brief researching. Anyways, I'm told there is a church somewhere in Pontypool, and since the story takes place in one, I'll assume it's the actual church of Pontypool. That's one thing I didn't find whilst snooping around: the truth behind whether the film was shot in the town that it's set in, and if that was really the basement of a church (where most of the action takes place). Take one look at the thing and you'll be able to tell that this is low-budget filmmaking, but I have no doubt on my mind that budget restraints would limit where you can shoot a movie in a town that close to no one acknowledges. Inspired in part by Orson Well's "War of the Words" (more-so the radio show days than the novel), the plot concerns the said church, the radio station/studio located underneath it, and the people who are called into work on a particularly snowy day. Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie), the host of Pontypool's very own radio station, arrives late and proceeds to enrage his boss - the station manager Sydney (Lisa Houle) - and charm the technical assistant - Laurel-Ann (Georgina Reilly) -. On his way to work, he encountered a strange and distressed middle-aged woman who approached his car speaking in what was either gibberish or another language completely. He is disturbed by the fact that, as she retired back to the blizzard outside the vehicle, she kept repeating the words that Grant kept calling out to her. Of course, he asks the listeners whether this means anything. Meanwhile, the weatherman (a helicopter reporter who isn't actually in a helicopter at all but rather standing on a hill with sound effects by his side to make it all feel naturalistic) updates the rest of the crew on the harsh weather conditions the town is facing, and gives them a little something extra as well. After the weather, the reporter claims to be overseeing a violent riot that has broken out at the office of a Doctor Mendez. People die in all the chaos, and the line between reporter and Grant is cut off a few times, leaving those in the studio in suspense until the line comes back up. When it does, the weatherman has moved closer to the scene and is now in the presence of a few of the crazed locals. He puts the microphone up to the mouth of one of the resident's children - in one of the film's more chilling moments - and what we hear from the other end is what sounds like a baby's cries. We're all thinking the same thing: impossible. Eventually, Dr. Mendez escapes the scene outside his office and makes his way to the church. He fills all the other characters in on just what's going on. According to his words, a virus has made its way into the English language. How it did so, we don't know. Nevertheless, certain words and phrases are now deemed "infected", and if they are repeated and eventually understood, the virus can take over a host body, which would explain the outburst of violence mentioned earlier. The civilians are ready to break into the church, babbling on about basically nothing in ridiculously creepy ways, and the remaining survivors are going to have to find out a way to keep on living. To emerge victorious at the end of the ordeal, Grant, Sydney, and the Doctor come up with a plan to get them through the rest of this horrible, horrible day. Who survives, who doesn't, and what the conclusion to this epic tale of inevitable apocalyptic doom may be is not my job to spoil. I've always thought the phrase "sticks and stones will break by bones but words will never hurt me" was silly, but now I can officially confirm that it's complete bullshit. "Pontypool" has a premise that will probably remind a lot of people of some sort of zombie survival-horror flick, but indeed it does try to be something much more. The repetition of phrases and words from the "infected" turns out to be pretty damn ominous for some time, although it's arguably even creepier when we don't get a physical representation of the zombie-like beings. The best moments in "Pontypool" are the radio transmissions; in which we can't see what the guy at the other end is, and must use our imaginations - the greatest of tools, the greatest of weapons - to put the pieces of the invisible puzzle together. Of course, the film is dark, depressing, and relentlessly claustrophobic; but unlike a lot of films like it, it's actually pretty darn scary. McHattie's energetic performance also helps to elevate the material by giving it a bit of a comic edge, leveling out the overall tone to something that will agree with most horror audiences. "Pontypool" was written by Tony Burgess - working from an original novel, so I'm told - and directed by Bruce McDonald. Together, these two men have devised something ingenious and creepy, something that gets under your skin without absolutely mutilating it. Perhaps that alone is why the film can never be great, but at the same time, seldom is indie horror ever that. The movie does its job, and efficiently enough at that. I'm not ignorant enough to make false claims such as that it's a flawless film -the supporting performances are forgettable with the actors simply doing their job and nothing more, and it becomes less frightening once the crazy people break in) but this is still a tense little thrill-ride. It utilizes slow-burn suspense stylistics and makes great use of moody camerawork/sound design; rendering it perhaps an exceptional achievement in the technical fields alone. But if you're looking for something of a higher (meaning deeper) humanistic caliber, you might want to look elsewhere.

• Stephen E

  
  While watching Pontypool, I realized that Stephen McHattie sounds oddly similar to Kiefer Sutherland. He has a voice that rises barely above a growl; a voice that sounds like sandpaper and a week's worth of hangovers. His radio sequences (pretty much the first thirty minutes of… More
  While watching Pontypool, I realized that Stephen McHattie sounds oddly similar to Kiefer Sutherland. He has a voice that rises barely above a growl; a voice that sounds like sandpaper and a week's worth of hangovers. His radio sequences (pretty much the first thirty minutes of the film) were extraordinary. And really, Pontypool is an extraordinary film. It isn't incredibly original, but there are bits and pieces that you'll be pretty impressed with. It's an entirely effective horror film. At least, until the first hour or so is up. Then, not so much. Now, this film is scary. Not scary in the "Gotcha!" sense of the word, the kind of scary that Paranormal Activity has made famous. No, this is that genuine, skin-crawling kind of scary. The kind of scary that slowly builds in gut-wrenching tension instead of being abrupt and shocking. And here in Pontypool, that kind of scary is manufactured entirely by dialogue. Now, isn't that impressive? But besides the scares and the performances (which were good, especially from McHattie), it's fairly familiar. It turns into your run-of-the-mill George A. Romero film. And let's not forget how preposterous everything gets. I mean, I can handle a certain amount of ridiculousness in a film, as long as that film doesn't take itself too seriously. But as funny as Pontypool could be sometimes, it sort of took the whole "infected by words" thing too far. I mean, come on, guys. That's not even close to being believable. And by saying this, I'm not dissing Pontypool. I'm only pointing out a few flaws. I actually enjoyed it immensely and I recommend to any fan of the claustrophobic-horror genre.

• Jacob P

  
  A very good zombie film. Possibly one of my favorites. The atmosphere in the film is what makes it so eerie and terrifying. The acting was great, and probably had one of the best plots i've ever heard. A very good movie.

• August S

  
  Very suspenseful. A very unique contribution for the list great zombie films.

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