Bruce McDonald's inventive and entertaining 'semiotic zombie movie,' Pontypool is about to spread across a number of screens in Canada (starting March 6th), and a second trailer has popped up online. Some of us around these parts love this movie to death (perchance they seen it too many times for their own good?) and are waiting for this one to find the instant cult audience it deserves, or perhaps box office success to finance the proposed next two chapters from the askew mind of Tony Burgess. Er, anyway, this new trailer showcases the linguistic/cerebral side of things in a much more satisfying manner than the first trailer which went for a more traditional horror jump scare route. There is just a smidgen of good old Orson Welles' War of the Worlds type hysteria locked in there which makes me smile.
For those of you locally that missed the films several packed screenings at TIFF, or the Ontario Cinematheque screening a couple weeks ago, there is a free opportunity to see Pontypool via the University of Toronto's Cinema Student Union, CINNSSU. The screening is at Innis Town Hall on March 2nd at 7pm.
Morning radio personality Grant Mazzy is having a bad month. His career from Toronto radio personality has been diminished to broadcasting small town radio from the basement of a church; a task he makes bearable by thinly veiled sarcasm and small town mockery. His producer wants him to talk about school closings and traffic hick-ups. He wants drama and controversy. With a three person crew running Pontypool’s “The Beacon,” there is already a fair bit of tension in the room. The level rises significantly when reports start coming in of some sort of mob attacks. The traffic reporter confirms that there is indeed some sort of crazed horde attacking the local psychiatrists office, and there is much blood and murder on the scene. Not your average day in Pontypool.
Americans itching to catch the most innovative Zombie flick since 28 Days...? IFC is giving Pontypool a limited release (and potentially a simultaneous Video On Demand release) in the United States on May 29th. However, for those in Austin, Texas for the SXSW Festival (March 13-23) there are two screenings (the US Premiere, in fact). Personally, I'd go to the midnight one if I were in town.
The second trailer is after the Jump.
It's been a personal dream of mine to see Mc Hattie in a hat.
This looks really good. Hope it goes international.
I'm not much of a fan of zombie flicks, but that looks like it might be an interesting take on the genre
Does anyone have any information on the March 6 release in Canada? I can't seem to find anything on showtimes or theatres at all.
Fill - Good Question. I've got some emails sent to MAPLE, who are claiming March 6, even as the websites I use for Toronto Upcoming films suggest March 13. Will update when I get some sort of official word.
I think the film is being distributed by Equinoxe in Canada. I just won tickets to the pre-screening next Monday and I could not be any more excited!!! The official theater release will be Friday the 13th of March.