Let me start by saying I liked Pontypool. It's intelligent and the scenes are visceral and carried on the shoulders of its limited cast. The messages about communication and the media are subtle yet clear, and the static location is actually refreshing to a degree. Not to mention I love good zombie films. I liked zombie films before they were reintroduced and re-oversaturated the market. I rated 28 Days Later a 10/10 and 28 Weeks Later a 9/10 and I stand by those reviews. Pontypool is not either of those movies by a long shot. I respect a thinking man's zombie movie and it is what saves Pontypool from being a complete disaster. The setting is great and feels realistic, the writing is above most films of this type, McHattie carries this movie on his shoulder, and the concepts are refreshing and original. Unfortunately, this is not the great zombie film some of these reviews have raved about. People love to give extra credit for effort with low budget productions and I can respect that. People love the underdogs and particularly when they don't completely suck. But the fact is Pontypool suffers from a list of avoidable problems that stops it from greatness.
I'm all for new concepts. I can even dig a zombie-like virus getting spread through the English Language and the understanding of certain words that trigger the effects. The problem here is in the presentation of the idea, not the idea itself. The "revelation" is introduced poorly and unconvincingly. Then when the film attempts to explain itself, it seems like it stumbles over logic. It felt as if the last 45 minutes or so was trying to grasp some "AHA" moment that never happened. While the basic idea is conveyed, when the script attempts to go deeper into the mythology, it struggles to produce convincing logistics. What you are left with is a series of half-ideas built on an interesting premise and covered in satire. Films like this come off more as pretentious than brilliant. It thinks it is a classic but it's not. The lack of visible zombies is also a minor complaint but that could have been overcame by a more thought-out plot.
As it stands, Pontypool is a decent flick. The acting all around is superb and what little direction is necessary is done competently. The concept is original and the messages aren't too preachy. Unfortunately, for a film that relies on the script and intelligence, it falls short in effectively moving the plot. Some scenes are overly long and the explanations of what is going on are convoluted and unbelievable. The offbeat comedy is decently done but not enough to move the film into the realm of dark comedy. Some of the reviews are accurate in saying this is a cerebral horror movie that requires you to think as you watch. The problem was i thought a little too much and was left unsatisfied with the results. I recommend Pontypool to horror fans that can appreciate a slow moving plot and suspense that is built through dialogue almost exclusively. Also, Pontypool is nowhere near as intelligent as some of these reviewers want to make it. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of them came into this low-budget movie with low expectations and were pleasantly surprised it wasn't horrible and actually made them think a bit. That doesn't make it classic cinema or supremely intelligent. It is what it is. A slow moving and decent horror film carried by the actors and an excellent single idea expanded into a full length movie. 6/10
I'm all for new concepts. I can even dig a zombie-like virus getting spread through the English Language and the understanding of certain words that trigger the effects. The problem here is in the presentation of the idea, not the idea itself. The "revelation" is introduced poorly and unconvincingly. Then when the film attempts to explain itself, it seems like it stumbles over logic. It felt as if the last 45 minutes or so was trying to grasp some "AHA" moment that never happened. While the basic idea is conveyed, when the script attempts to go deeper into the mythology, it struggles to produce convincing logistics. What you are left with is a series of half-ideas built on an interesting premise and covered in satire. Films like this come off more as pretentious than brilliant. It thinks it is a classic but it's not. The lack of visible zombies is also a minor complaint but that could have been overcame by a more thought-out plot.
As it stands, Pontypool is a decent flick. The acting all around is superb and what little direction is necessary is done competently. The concept is original and the messages aren't too preachy. Unfortunately, for a film that relies on the script and intelligence, it falls short in effectively moving the plot. Some scenes are overly long and the explanations of what is going on are convoluted and unbelievable. The offbeat comedy is decently done but not enough to move the film into the realm of dark comedy. Some of the reviews are accurate in saying this is a cerebral horror movie that requires you to think as you watch. The problem was i thought a little too much and was left unsatisfied with the results. I recommend Pontypool to horror fans that can appreciate a slow moving plot and suspense that is built through dialogue almost exclusively. Also, Pontypool is nowhere near as intelligent as some of these reviewers want to make it. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of them came into this low-budget movie with low expectations and were pleasantly surprised it wasn't horrible and actually made them think a bit. That doesn't make it classic cinema or supremely intelligent. It is what it is. A slow moving and decent horror film carried by the actors and an excellent single idea expanded into a full length movie. 6/10