Pontypool is a unique take on the horror genre that will inevitably be paired with other zombie films. That's a shame, because Pontypool is so much more than a zombie flick.
Pontypool has superficial similarities to the 2007 zombie film Dead Air. Both films featured shock jocks (Stephen McHattie as Grant Mazzy) trapped in a recording studio reacting to the zombie infestation on the air, with live reports from their colleagues in the field of the infestation. The similarities end there; where Dead Air reflects on terrorism in America, Pontypool considers the virality of language. What if an interdimensional invasion was launched through speech? English words have different meanings depending on tone, inflection, and circumstances - what if certain words, like "honey" were infected?
Pontypool reflects on the use and abuse of words. Throughout, Mazzy the former shock jock spars with conservative station manager Sydney Briar (Lisa Houle) over what's appropriate on the air. Mazzy discovers a series of harsh truths through his coarse handling of his radio subjects: the cops he jokingly accuses of alcoholism are really alcoholics, the weatherman calling in from his helicopter is actually driving around in a van, and the small Ontario town of Pontypool is not interested in shock talk...until the news itself becomes shocking. Throughout, Mazzy transforms from cynical commenter to a freedom of speech crusader right up to when the "zombies" start banging on the studio's doors.
The crux of Pontypool is a question of whether mass communication does more harm than good. Mazzy is torn between going off the air to prevent the spread of the virus and using his mouthpiece to warn the citizens of Pontypool of the plague. Mazzy's ego, like the plague itself, won't let him stop talking.
The word virus in Pontypool is explained by Dr. Mendez (Hrant Alianak) as a scrambling of language from another dimension. The infected attempt to find an audio frequency and after getting stuck on a particular word, begin to mimic the sounds they hear, eventually chewing their way through the mouths of other victims. Director Bruce McDonald calls the infected "conversationalists."
Pontypool could easily be a stage play, relying on the timbre of McHattie's voice and the panicked reports of weatherman Ken Loney (Rick Roberts). Much of Pontypool's horror is through sound, be it the increasingly terrified Loney or the bizarre mutterings of the infected. Pontypool is a feast for the ears.
Pontypool gradually makes less and less sense as the film progresses. The good doctor conveniently shows up at the recording studio to explain how the virus works. Technical assistant Laurel-Ann Drummond (Georgina Reilly) gets infected, trapping Mazzy, Mendez, and Briar in the recording booth. And then Mazzy comes up with a variety of plans that range from common sense (he wants to leave the studio) to insane (he doesn't want to leave the studio).
SPOILERPOOL: There's a reason for this. About mid-point through the film it reaches a creepy high point in which we listen to a conversationalist's mutterings...and from then on Mazzy is likely infected. His dialogue becomes increasingly unhinged. Knowing Mazzy is infected, when he doesn't, only adds to the terror and helps reconcile the nihilistic ending. But don't feel too bad. The end credits are proof that Pontypool has a sense of humor...and that transformation through language goes beyond the physical.
Like The Ring and Inception, Pontypool adds radio to televisions and dreams that we didn't realize we should fear all along. After all, the audience spent 93 minutes listening to the virus. Not infected yet? Did I mention that lurking in the center of Pontypool is the word "typo"?
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