A radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in.A radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in.A radio host interprets the possible outbreak of a deadly virus which infects the small Ontario town he is stationed in.
- Awards
- 1 win & 11 nominations total
- Ken Loney
- (voice)
- Conversationalist
- (as Daniel Park)
- Fish Hut Man
- (uncredited)
Storyline
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.
- GoofsAfter the radio station receives a warning message in French, Grant reads a translation which includes the phrase "For greater safety, please avoid the English language." This was not part of the French message when it came through.
- 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. Well this bridge, now slightly damaged, is a bit of a local treasure and even has its own fancy name; Pont de Flaque. Now Collette, that sounds like Culotte. That's Panty in French. And Piscine means Pool. Panty pool. Flaque also means pool in French, so Colete Piscine, in French Panty Pool, drives over the Pont de Flaque, the Pont de Pool if you will, to avoid hitting Mrs. French's cat that has been missing in Pontypool. Pontypool. Pontypool. Panty pool. Pont de Flaque. What does it mean? Well, Norman Mailer, he had an interesting theory that he used to explain the strange coincidences in the aftermath of the JFK assasination. In the wake of huge events, after them and before them, physical details they spasm for a moment; they sort of unlock and when they come back into focus they suddenly coincide in a weird way. Street names and birthdates and middle names, all kind of superfluous things appear related to eachother. It's a ripple effect. So, what does it mean? Well... it means something's going to happen. Something big. But then, something's always about to happen.
- Crazy creditsThere's a scene after the end credits.
- SoundtracksThe Nefud Desert
Music & Lyrics by Tony Burgess
Performed by Boyd Banks, Tony Burgess, Rachel Burns, Hannah Fleming
A virus. Flesh eating zombies. A body count in the millions has decimated Ontario's population. What if you woke up and began your morning by devoting the rest of your life to a murderous rampage, a never-ending cannibalistic spree? And what if you were only one of thousands who shared the same compulsion? This novel depicts just such an epidemic. It's the compelling, terrifying story of a devastating virus.
I will not tell you how you catch it so as not to include spoilers, but once it has you, it leads you on a strange journeyinto another world where the undead chase you down the streets of the smallest towns and largest cities.
If you are expecting a night of the living dead style film... this is not it. This movie does a fantastic job of drawing you into the world of the characters, their relationships and everything falling apart around them; you are not an outside observer. You are for all intensive purposes just another Pontypool citizen wondering "Wiskey-Tango-Foxtrot".
This movie is a great treat for four reasons 1) The focus on the actors as the actors were perfectly cast. You may recognize an actress from the recent release of Dark Room 2) The choice to follow the "Aliens" model of never placing the source of "fear and unease" front stage. By not letting you in on the whole thing and only providing glimpses, your imagination will take the scenes further than any expensive CGI ever could. 3) The writing and angle of the movie. You feel like you are part of the movie as you only know what the main actors know... nothing more! 4)The intro and the voice of the main actor really pull you in like a warm sedative as you spiral downward into the insanity of your own imagination.
Enjoy... we did!
- clairmonde
- Mar 7, 2009
- Permalink
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $950,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,865
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,541
- May 31, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $32,118
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1