Review of Pontypool (2009) by Andrew P — 21 Jan 2010

If you can create a film using just one room, then you've got some talent on your hands. The Canadian horror film sensation of last year, Bruce McDonald's 'Pontypool', creates the spearing build-up of suspense by confining its minimal cast of actors and occurrences in one small radio station, where you absolutely have no choice but to get to know each character relatively well; Refer to Sydney Lumet's genius, thrilling classic '12 Angry Men', or even Quentin Tarantino's slow-boiling indie heist film 'Reservoir Dogs'.

Grant Mazzy is our cowboy of a radio personality, accompanied by the radio producer Sydney Briar, and an Iraqi War vet Laurel Ann. The film begins with alarming foresight: "...something's going to happen.

Something big. But then, something's always about to happen," as uttered by Grant Mazzy in mention of the coincidental ripple effects of major events happening and things which relate to it (elusive! I know!).

In the rarely filmed outside snowy Canadian landscape, terror is on the rise - but what is it? Luckily, they're able to obtain hands-on coverage of the mania by the help of their reporter via cell phone, as it turns out to be a widespread zombie-like infection of hungry, convulsing humans.

'Pontypool's encased setting creates the well-expected, utter feeling of claustrophobia, almost as great as such horror gems as 'The Descent' and 'Session 9' - yet it only almost makes up for the poor attempt at an inventive twist as to why the humans have become infected.

Also, writer Tony Burgess has a terribly abrupt sense of comic writing, as the unexpected bits of humor suffered from awful timing - so much you feel like you shouldn't even laugh at the few "funny" parts.

Then again, I was so drawn to the unnervingly simplistic creation of this film that I can fairly turn the other cheek at such faults.. Bruce McDonald, from which of his films I've only seen the miserably conceived, yet somewhat original 'The Tracey Fragments', does have a novel eye for horror, and the film's writing of dialogue and sequence in conjunction with the well-selected actors and actresses make for a damn good experience.