Pontypool (2008): Reviewed by Stuart Conover
Pontypool, directed by: Bruce McDonald and written by: Tony Burgess takes an original look at the infection movie sub-genre that has been springing up more consistently since 28 Days Later was released. This film is adapted by the novel Pontypool Changes Everything, also by Tony Burgess. I love it when you can see a screenplay and novel both written by the same author. A fast spreading disease whose results somewhat imitate the theme found in many zombie films. The twist on how the disease spreads though is one that if it were to happen would be terrifying in how easy it would be for it to overtake the populace- simply by speaking.
The film opens with Grant Mazzy(Stephen McHattie), a celebrity radio host that has fallen from grace of the larger studios and now is working from the small station and town of Pontypool Ontario. While he is clearly an angry radio host there is nothing for him to do in this small town to truly anger or upset the populace as his style- until the police reports start to come in. While there is no other news reporting the events to begin with and the government is quiet on it there are an increase in reports of theft, violence, and eventually riots occurring around and near the office of one Dr. Mendez. With the apparent blackout of information Grant’s station is the only giving any coverage of the bizarre events that are happening everywhere around him. As the reports continue to come in so do the strangeness of them: people babbling incoherently, repeating the same words over and over again, suddenly becoming violent towards those around them with no warning.
As his producer and assistant scramble to keep him updated with information they are still unable to get any answers on what the government is doing in response. Initially they suspect they may very well be being pranked until they receive a phone call from the sheriff of the town as well as are able to see the madness first hand directly outside of their building. They are quite content on continuing to report the events locked in their building under curfew until two things happen- The first of which is the arrival of the Dr. Mendez whose building where a riot was taking place, the second of which is the assistant starting to lose focus. Dr. Mendez explains that she has become infected with whatever has infected the rest of the populace and also is able to confirm that it is an infection that spreads through verbally saying or hearing a word that you understand.
How as a radio talk show host who wants to help people get better not speak and attempt to warn the populace? How is anyone able to easily communicate if they are unable to speak? While writing is quickly adopted it is also quickly given up even with the risk of infection possible with every word uttered.
With such limited locations they are able to tell an amazingly in-depth story. From just being briefly in a car at the beginning of the film to the rest being shot in just a few rooms within the radio station that Grant works at they are able to communicate effectively what is happening, without video, of the entire town. With both phone calls as well as a few examples within the building itself you are able to see what happens at every stage of the infection. From just catching it to either being able to spread it to others or being unable to it is able to cover the life cycle of the disease. In a society where communication is second nature, specifically by speaking, this is a disease that would be able to destroy humanity within weeks- if that long. The ending to the film doesn’t show the end of the world but you can clearly see where it’s going at that point.
If you love infection films or horror movies that are done with new twists you should enjoy this one. It’s a great way to kill a night and will easily be worth watching once or twice, I’d say go the rental not the purchase route.
I loved Pontypool quite a bit and it will probably make my top three films of the year. The brilliance of setting an infection film in a radio station when the infection is caused by language is an amazing idea.
While I haven't read the book, I did a review for the film and someone commented that this celluloid incarnation of Pontypool is only a chapter out of the book and Grant Mazzy is barely talked about. Pretty fascinating.
I did learn in my research for the film that when Tony Burgess and Bruce McDonald sat down to flesh out the script, Burgess wanted to go a route similar to Welles classic tale War of the Worlds radio broadcast. They even went as far as to make a radio broadcast only version of the film, where all you hear is what is said on the radio itself.
Good stuff.