Pontypool

SPOILERS!!!

I decided to watch 2008's PONTYPOOL for two reasons.  First, it takes place in a radio station.  I've always been fascinated with that business.  Second, its story of a zombie attack was reputed to be unique, not the usual gory munch fest.  Zombies can get boring real quick.   Director Bruce McDonald rather describes these babbling, virus ridden, and for novelty's sake - still alive creatures as "conversationalists."   This is because it is the English language that infects the unfortunates, who gather in "herds" and proceed to kill the uninfected, each other, and even sometimes themselves.  A different take on the usual undead saga.

Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) is a popular morning drive talk show host in Pontypool, Ontario.  His style is that of the abrasive shock jock, though he rarely raises his voice (think Don Imus).  His producer Sydney (Lisa Houle) is forever trying to keep him from going too rogue on the air.  After all, there are school closures and the weather to report.   Mazzy really hates the winter, by the way, but loves the whiskey his board op, Laurel-Ann (Georgina Reilly) supplies him for his morning coffee.  He settles in for another typical day of rants and battles with his callers (and Sydney), but is bothered by thoughts of the woman who approached his car on the way to work.  She kept repeating some word over and over...

Soon the traffic reporter (who pretends he's in a helicopter but is rather up on a hill in his car, playing helicopter sounds for the listeners) reports a crowd outside of a local doctor's office.  A mob, acting strangely and growing violent.  The event somehow quickly goes international - even the BBC gets wind of it.   Then, the trio at the station learn that the town is under quarantine.  No one is to go outside, or speak the English language.  That local doctor eventually sneaks in the station (through a window) and explains what is happening, and how it started.  Oh, but speaking French is O.K. 

You may find it ridiculous.  Tony Burgess, who adapted is novel Pontypool Changes Everything, takes it quite seriously, and prompts all manner of interpretation.  You could mull it over for hours.  The power of words, even (especially?) terms of endearment .  Their corrosive effect, especially when absorbed by the populace, often via the media.  You can see where this is going.  The entire plot becomes heady, but the threat remains real.  There is some gore and violence, but far less than in a George Romero epic.  As in his films, zombies represent all manner of things.

McHattie is excellent, and really has a great broadcast voice.  The earlier scenes of PONTYPOOL are electric with Mazzy doing his thing and sparring with Sydney.   There is some kind of unexplained narrative pull when we see DJs/hosts running down their show, fictional or otherwise.  The effect is as if we are actually listening to an audio drama.  To wit, Burgess' novel was simultaneously adapted as a one hour radio play.

When the horror/suspense ratchets up, the film is still engaging, and refreshingly minimalist. McDonald orchestrates some effective creepiness.   This is a film more interested in ideas than show stopping effects, and while it doesn't entirely succeed this is certainly a ride worth taking for the curious.  

P.S. - The post credits scene is amusing, but kicks the story into more of a science fiction realm.  Not necessary, imo.