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IMDbPro

Pontypool

  • 20082008
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
33K
YOUR RATING
Pontypool (2008)
A psychological thriller in which a deadly virus infects a small Ontario town.
Play trailer1:35
2 Videos
80 Photos
HorrorSci-Fi
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.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
33K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bruce McDonald
  • Writer
    • Tony Burgess(novel "Pontypool Changes Everything")
  • Stars
    • Stephen McHattie
    • Lisa Houle
    • Georgina Reilly
  • Director
    • Bruce McDonald
  • Writer
    • Tony Burgess(novel "Pontypool Changes Everything")
  • Stars
    • Stephen McHattie
    • Lisa Houle
    • Georgina Reilly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 222User reviews
    • 194Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 11 nominations

    Videos2

    Pontypool
    Trailer 1:35
    Watch Pontypool
    Pontypool
    Clip 1:43
    Watch Pontypool

    Photos80

    Georgina Reilly in Pontypool (2008)
    Lisa Houle and Stephen McHattie in Pontypool (2008)
    Stephen McHattie in Pontypool (2008)
    Lisa Houle in Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Lisa Houle and Stephen McHattie in Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Pontypool (2008)
    Stephen McHattie in Pontypool (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stephen McHattie
    Stephen McHattie
    • Grant Mazzy
    Lisa Houle
    Lisa Houle
    • Sydney Briar
    Georgina Reilly
    Georgina Reilly
    • Laurel-Ann Drummond
    Hrant Alianak
    Hrant Alianak
    • Dr. Mendez
    Rick Roberts
    Rick Roberts
    • Ken Loney
    • (voice)
    Daniel Fathers
    Daniel Fathers
    • Nigel Healing
    Beatriz Yuste
    Beatriz Yuste
    • Nancy Freethy
    Tony Burgess
    Tony Burgess
    • Tony (Lawrence)
    Boyd Banks
    Boyd Banks
    • Jay (Osama)
    Hannah Fleming
    • Maureen (Farraj)
    Rachel Burns
    • Colleen (Daud)
    Laura Nordin
    Laura Nordin
    • Spooky Woman
    Louis Negin
    Louis Negin
    • Conversationalist
    Diane Gordon
    • Conversationalist
    Daniel Park
    • Conversationalist
    Yvonne Moore
    • Conversationalist
    Raffaele Carniato
    • Conversationalist
    Derek Scott
    Derek Scott
    • Fish Hut Man
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Bruce McDonald
    • Writer
      • Tony Burgess(novel "Pontypool Changes Everything")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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 credits
      There's a scene after the end credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in WhatCulture Originals: 10 Underrated Horror Movies You Need To Watch (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      The Nefud Desert
      Music & Lyrics by Tony Burgess

      Performed by Boyd Banks, Tony Burgess, Rachel Burns, Hannah Fleming

    User reviews222

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A word is more virulent than a thousand pictures
    One of the things the great Orson Welles is known for is a radio broadcast reporting on an alien invasion. Credulous folks did not see the hoax. Pontypool follows a similar line with Martians replaced by zombies and hoax by satire.

    In my hierarchy zombie films are the cheapjack of cinema. Surprising then I would be watching one. Nonetheless I stayed to the end of Pontypool on the strength of its various non-zombie elements.

    First, the film brought to mind the radio days of yore, before TV arrived to pollute our living rooms. The evening serials for children with voices and sound effects elicited an imagery of thrilling adventures and exciting conflicts of good versus evil. Would not miss a single episode. In this there was a counterexample to the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words.

    Second, the core conceit of a zombie-inducing disease transmitted by a word, or words, ties in nicely with the viral memes of Dawkins. (See his talk at TED for a short explanation.) If the word is mightier than the sword, here a word is more virulent than a bomb. The zombie state is a metaphor for anti-social acts that otherwise normal people are led to commit because their minds have been contaminated.

    Third, the self-deprecating humor. The bits about the poisoning of the public airwaves. The chopper-riding reporter in the middle of a blinding snow storm reporting on the traffic. The irritating language tics -- you know -- of some, here captured by endless zombie repetitiveness and the tendency of the zombies to chew their own tongues into a bloody mass. In places the film elevates itself to satire and laughing at the silliness of the explicit plot happens often.

    Finally, the superb performance of Stephen McHattie as the morning radio talk show host of the small AM 660 CLSY station in Pontypool. If there is a single reason to watch this film it is McHattie.

    The film is beautifully economical. The entire action, except for the opening scene, takes places in a radio station. As such the film is mostly words. In that it is self-referential: a film about a day at a radio station's studio that is a purveyor of words. I would not be surprised to find Pontypool reach the level of cult film.
    helpful•15
    15
    • rasecz
    • Mar 22, 2009

    FAQ1

    • Where does the name Pontypool come from?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 18, 2009 (Turkey)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Armenian
    • Also known as
      • Im Hoặc Chết
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Ponty Up Pictures
      • Shadow Shows
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $950,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,865
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,541
      • May 31, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,118
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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