Pontypool (2008)

Horror, Fantasy

Director: Bruce McDonald
Writer: Tony Burgess
Starring: Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly, Hrant Alianak

"Words lose their meaning when you repeat them."

An unconventional low-budget zombie flick that shouldn't be missed by fans of the genre.

Set entirely in a radio station in a small town in Canada, Pontypool centers around a DJ and his crew making their on-air show during what appears to be a zombie outbreak of apocalyptic proportions outside.

What makes this film so compelling, besides its brilliant premise, is that it manages to effectively build tension and suspense without the use of the flesh-and-blood gore traditional to zombie films. Fueled by committed acting, with a tour-de-force performance by its protagonist, character actor Stephen McHattie, a tight direction and a wonderfully focused script (a loose adaptation of a book by its writer, Tony Burgess), this underrated and refreshingly original horror gem rewards viewers that are looking for something different.

Plot summary from IMDb: A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town.

Awards: 1 win & 9 nominations.
Runtime: 93 min
NOT R