There is a Beacon Radio in Birmingham.

Most of the population of Birmingham are murderous, monosyllabic monsters.

I live in Pontypool!!

This is "less is more" horror...you see almost nothing, yet for nearly the whole runtime it feels like you have a fat person sat on your chest! Tense is definitely the word to describe it.

Especially as when the world does come to an end...as it most definitely will...this is how most of us are going to hear about it. From a shitty local radio station.

My local radio stations have Brummy accented presenters too...imagining hearing about the end of days from them is more terrifying than the 'being eaten by zombies' thing.

I had no idea what this would be about when I started watching it. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be one of the smartest, tightest, most engrossing and original horror films I've seen this year! Canada rules the indie scene!

There is a Beacon Radio in Birmingham.

Most of the population of Birmingham are murderous, monosyllabic monsters.

I live in Pontypool!!

This is "less is more" horror...you see almost nothing, yet for nearly the whole runtime it feels like you have a fat person sat on your chest! Tense is definitely the word to describe it.

Especially as when the world does come to an end...as it most definitely will...this is how most of us are going to hear about it. From a shitty local radio station.

My local radio stations have Brummy accented presenters too...imagining hearing about the end of days from them is more terrifying than the 'being eaten by zombies' thing.

Interesting - a zombie movie where you don't actually see many zombies (those that you do see are fun, though). Interesting concept too, though probably needs thinking out a bit more... Nicely done though - builds the tension well.

PontyPOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

Terrifying

I don't know, maybe I just didn't get this one but I agree with the reviewer that called it a great concept that was left unrealized. I recommend watching it, it is a fresh take on a really stale genre but I didn't fully buy into it.

I've gathered from friends that you either really love this one or you just liked it. That said, no one seems to dislike it. Give it a watch.

The zombie genre has long since left new and original ideas behind, instead opting for different settings and an escalation in gore - at best. Pontypool is one of the most effectively different, and genuinely creepy zombie films in far too long. Based in a radio station and using sound as a tool for infection, McHattie's reaction to eye witness accounts paints a vivid image of chaos with sound alone. Its a masterclass in understated escalation. With a great performance from Stephen McHattie as shock Jock Grant Mazzy and a daring silver tongued script, the only thing that let's it down is the expositional info dump that the doctor brings with him two thirds in.

Not sure how to grade this film. While there is proof here that unseen horrors in the mind can be more terrifying than those revealed, I don't think this one pays off anywhere near as well as the original concept deserves.

The plot is a little confusing at times, and I'm not advocating for a film to be 'dumbed down' (see my review of Primer). The character performances are great, if not a little unnecessarily manic at times.

Overall, the film looks beautiful and I love the idea of a 'language-born virus', but something about this piece feels unrealised. Especially, the ending.

I'd watch this again, because I really appreciate the uniqueness of it, however, it's just a little inconsistent for my liking, liking, liking, liking, liking, liking....

Gets away with its low budget setup thanks to the rather brilliant motivation revealed mid-way. Some may not buy into it, but I sure did.

A tense and fresh "zombie" film.