Pontypool is a unique horror film directed by Bruce McDonald and adapted from a novel by Tony Burgess. The movie follows the story of Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie), a disgruntled radio disc jockey who is forced to move to a small town to work at a low-budget radio station located in the basement of a church.
As the morning show starts and Mazzy begins his broadcast, strange news reports start coming in about a deadly virus that is spreading through language. At first, Mazzy thinks it's some kind of hoax or a prank, but soon he realizes that it's all too real. The virus is spreading at an alarming rate, infecting people and causing them to become violent and zombie-like.
To make matters worse, the radio station starts receiving reports of the virus from listeners and witnesses all over town. Mazzy and his colleagues, producer Sydney Briar (Lisa Houle) and technician Laurel-Ann (Georgina Reilly), start to receive calls from desperate local citizens who are terrified for their lives.
As the tension mounts, the radio station becomes a makeshift fortress, with Mazzy, Sydney, and Laurel-Ann desperately trying to figure out what is causing the virus and how to stop it. The movie creates a claustrophobic and eerie atmosphere, with most of the action taking place inside the small radio booth.
The film expertly plays on the fear of the unknown, as the virus is never really explained, and the cause remains mysterious and open to interpretation. Pontypool is a unique and inventive take on the zombie genre, with the focus on language and communication rather than the typical gore and violence. It's a thought-provoking and unsettling film that is sure to stick with viewers long after the credits roll.