Great concept with good performances and sometimes quite a lot of tension, but the nature of the plague is too inconsistent and incoherent. Also, its origin as a radio play was very obvious.
I can see not enjoying the film, but...one of the worst movies made by mankind? I've seen me some grade-A crap, stuff they wouldn't even show you in Hell and this isn't remotely close to that level.
Canadian director Bruce McDonald is my guy, and I didn't even know he'd made a horror film. That film is Pontypool (it's a town in Ontario, but the nonsense wordery of it all features in the story), more or less a zombie movie seen/heard from a radio station's perspective. Based on a book, McDonald produced it both as a film and as a radio play in parallel, and you might well come out of it thinking it was more radio play than film. Very spare, a single location, and only a small number of actors, and a puzzle story unfolding through what feels more like a character study. The threat, once revealed, feels like something out of Doctor Who, an unusual take on the zombie trope, and for me at least, the protagonists' solutions worked (but prepare to by mystified by the post-credits clip, classic McDonald). In many ways this was the reverse of every McDonald film I've seen. Instead of a road movie, we're trapped in one space. Instead of rock'n'roll, it's talk radio. And instead of a raw, grainy look, it's slick and polished. What we're really left of his style is the attitude that you can do a lot with little means. He's created another offbeat film I'd like to revisit some day.
Like thecritico6, I was riveted for the first 45 minutes or so. I was willing to forgive the at times spotty acting up until that point, but afterwards it just sank lower and lower... and lower.
This should serve as an example of just how far a film can go down the tubes. From great to unbelievably bad in about 15 minutes.
maybe because I enjoy radio programs I liked it, but I admit in the adaptation from the radioplay they should have added something. you can listen to this one the whole time...
"Also, its origin as a radio play was very obvious.", but it wasn't a radio play originally, just a novel. "It was simultaneously produced as a motion picture and a radio play."
i thought this movie had a really interesting concept but it was kind of poorly executed. i would give it a 3/5 stars but it is definitely worth a watch
Unbelievably dull and incoherent for the first two-thirds, but then takes an unexpected turn and becomes stupefyingly dull and incoherent in the final third.
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Comments 1 - 12 of 12
ChrisReynolds
Great concept with good performances and sometimes quite a lot of tension, but the nature of the plague is too inconsistent and incoherent. Also, its origin as a radio play was very obvious.Prof. Lumpcicle
I can see not enjoying the film, but...one of the worst movies made by mankind? I've seen me some grade-A crap, stuff they wouldn't even show you in Hell and this isn't remotely close to that level.Siskoid
Canadian director Bruce McDonald is my guy, and I didn't even know he'd made a horror film. That film is Pontypool (it's a town in Ontario, but the nonsense wordery of it all features in the story), more or less a zombie movie seen/heard from a radio station's perspective. Based on a book, McDonald produced it both as a film and as a radio play in parallel, and you might well come out of it thinking it was more radio play than film. Very spare, a single location, and only a small number of actors, and a puzzle story unfolding through what feels more like a character study. The threat, once revealed, feels like something out of Doctor Who, an unusual take on the zombie trope, and for me at least, the protagonists' solutions worked (but prepare to by mystified by the post-credits clip, classic McDonald). In many ways this was the reverse of every McDonald film I've seen. Instead of a road movie, we're trapped in one space. Instead of rock'n'roll, it's talk radio. And instead of a raw, grainy look, it's slick and polished. What we're really left of his style is the attitude that you can do a lot with little means. He's created another offbeat film I'd like to revisit some day.thecritic06
Becomes incoherent in the final third. Until then it absolutely had me riveted. Shame really.acoltismypassport
Like thecritico6, I was riveted for the first 45 minutes or so. I was willing to forgive the at times spotty acting up until that point, but afterwards it just sank lower and lower... and lower.This should serve as an example of just how far a film can go down the tubes. From great to unbelievably bad in about 15 minutes.
Starlight-
maybe because I enjoy radio programs I liked it, but I admit in the adaptation from the radioplay they should have added something. you can listen to this one the whole time...sahkoo
Really interesting. It was nice to watch, and the plot was something I didn't expect.Namfoodle
"Also, its origin as a radio play was very obvious.", but it wasn't a radio play originally, just a novel. "It was simultaneously produced as a motion picture and a radio play."toshi456
i thought this movie had a really interesting concept but it was kind of poorly executed. i would give it a 3/5 stars but it is definitely worth a watchemmanuella
oh god. So boring..greenhorg
Unbelievably dull and incoherent for the first two-thirds, but then takes an unexpected turn and becomes stupefyingly dull and incoherent in the final third.Richvillx
Awful movie , Started out decent then it unwrapped itself into one of the worst movies made by man-kind.