Plot
A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town.
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 6.7/10 (8,707 voted)
Critic's Score: 54/100
Director:
Bruce McDonald
Stars: Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly
Storyline A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town.
Writers: Tony Burgess, Tony Burgess
Cast: Stephen McHattie
-
Grant Mazzy
Lisa Houle
-
Sydney Briar
Georgina Reilly
-
Laurel-Ann Drummond
Hrant Alianak
-
Dr. Mendez
Rick Roberts
-
Ken Loney
(voice)
Daniel Fathers
-
Nigel Healing
(voice)
Beatriz Yuste
-
Nancy Freethy
Tony Burgess
-
Tony
/
Lawrence
Boyd Banks
-
Jay
/
Osama
Hannah Fleming
-
Maureen
/
Faraj
Rachel Burns
-
Colin
/
Daud
Laura Nordin
-
Spooky Woman
Louis Negin
-
Conversationalist
Diane Gordon
-
Conversationalist
Daniel Park
-
Conversationalist
Taglines:
Words lose their meaning when you repeat them.
Release Date: 18 September 2009
Filming Locations: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Box Office Details
Budget: $1,500,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: TRL 9,061
(Turkey)
(18 September 2009)
Gross: $3,478
(USA)
(7 June 2009)
Technical Specs
Runtime:|
Canada:
(Toronto International Film Festival)
Did You Know?
Trivia:
"Pontypool" was produced as both a motion picture, and as a radio play. Both versions of "Pontypool" were influenced by Orson Welles' infamous radio production of "The War of the Worlds." The radio play was broadcast on the BBC's Art & Culture section of their World Service website. It is approximately 58 minutes long, as opposed to the film's running time of 95 minutes.
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
The "live" video of the BBC's Nigel Healing playing on the computer has a moving progress indicator underneath, indicating that it's pre-recorded video being played and not a live feed.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Grant Mazzy:
Mrs. French's cat is missing. The signs are posted all over town. "Have you seen Honey?" We've all seen the posters, but nobody has seen Honey the cat. Nobody. Until last Thursday morning, when Miss Colette Piscine swerved her car to miss Honey the cat as she drove across a bridge...
User Review
Refreshingly Original Zombie Movie
Rating: 8/10
The zombie horror genre is an over-saturated one; and it takes
something truly original to remind you why you loved them in the first
place. "Pontypool" is such a movie. If you think this is going to be a
straightforward zombie flick, it's time to think again.
The first half of the movie moves slowly but efficiently, as a radio
host and the two women in his team begin to realise that something is
most definitely wrong in their normally quiet little town. With the aid
of some wonderful cinematography and an intelligent script, the
audience is holed up inside the radio station as reports begin to
filter through of mysterious events which are growing ever more
threatening in nature.
The second half of the story, when the cause of the danger becomes
known and our protagonists are forced to protect themselves, will
either impress you (as it did me) or completely lose you. If you're
lucky enough to experience the former, you'll realise that this movie
has far more going for it than your standard 'mindless zombies run
around eating brains' movie. It's a cerebral horror movie, designed to
make you think as you watch.
The acting is solid throughout. Stephen McHattie (who had small parts
in "Watchmen" and "A History Of Violence" amongst others, and whose
voice and appearance reminds me of Lance Henriksen) is perfectly cast
in the central role, and is backed by great performances by Lisa Houle
and Georgina Reilly. As most of the early scenes of rising dread come
from their characters listening to others calling the radio show, their
reactions are essential to maintaining suspense and they do a fantastic
job.
If you're a fan of more intelligent horror fare (such as the earlier
work of David Cronenberg), you'd be advised to take a look here. It's a
movie that defies expectations and provides a refreshing injection into
a genre of movie that has become increasingly tired as of late.
0