Netflix Pick – Pontypool
Halloween is approaching so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this week’s Netflix Pick is a thriller. Pontypool is a cleverly done low budget thriller with an engaging lead and unique premise. The synopsis didn’t sell me straight away so hopefully this write up can sway you into trying the unique piece of Canadian cinema. Be sure to stick around for the stinger too.
Pontypool – Grant
Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) is a late night radio DJ in the titular town of Pontypool, Ontario. Along with his Producer, Sydney (Lisa Houle) and another station hand, Laurel-Ann (Georgina Reilly) Grant’s show starts as a freeform quick word association game that spawns from a strange encounter he had on the way into work. The free association seems like a DJ on a riff at first but as the plot unfolds it becomes clear that so much more is put behind the long monologue. What is happening to Pontypool is described by Dr. Mendez (Hrant Alianak) as a language virus. There is something in words, seemingly secluded to the English language, that is driving people to drone or zombie like states.
The plot is similar to Stephen King’s ‘Cell’ in that a relatively unidentified trigger brings the inhabitants of a town into violent drones. Where it differs is the scale. Pontypool is practically a Bottle movie. It takes place almost entirely in the radio station itself. The crazed events in the outside world come into the station through phone calls, first hand accounts, correspondents in the field, and eventually all too literally. The less is more play for classic horror movies is very much at play in Pontypool. The film and the audience are far better off for it. Even better, Pontypool doesn’t do what 95% of horror movies do, they never cross the line so blatantly the implied becomes over the top in your face, ruining all the good will the director and writer built up to that point.
Something is incredibly familiar about lead actor Stephen McHattie. Watching him carry Pontypool along with Lisa Houle is a treat in itself. Diving into McHattie’s IMDB page was really eye opening. With roles in 300, Watchmen, The Fountain, A History of Violence, The Strain, and Immortals (not to mention almost 200 other credits), you have definitely seen him around. If you haven’t, start watching. I just gave you six more recommendations.
A lot of credit also needs to be given to writer Tony Burgess and director Bruce McDonald. Burgess also wrote the novel version of Pontypool the movie is based on. The movie itself is truly an actors piece. Tight writing that lets actors stretch their legs always makes the most enjoyable finds. Pontypool delivers both.
There is a post credit scene for the movie. Even during the credits news and other radio reports chime in with their two cents on the events. The stinger is… odd. On the surface it seems like something the director threw in just for fun. I doubt that’s actually the case. Perhaps it’s a metaphor for what happened in the events of the movie? Maybe it’s to be taken literally. More can’t be said without giving too much away, but after watching it, think about your own take and get back to us on the So Wizard Facebook (www.facebook.com/sowizardpodcast/) page.
Pontypool is a tightly written, expertly acted, thriller that knows exactly how much to put out in the open. The audience gets to imagine what’s happening, the audience gets to theorize, and the audience gets to pick their own ending to a degree. What more could you ask for in a thrilling bit of entertainment?
