Pontypool

Former shock jock Grant Mazzy drives through a heavy blizzard to reach the radio station where he works. His progress is hindered by poor visibility, forcing him to stop his car and confront the unsettling sight of an underdressed woman appearing in the storm.

Startled by the woman, Grant tries to call out to her, but she disappears into the blizzard, ominously repeating his words. This eerie encounter leaves him disturbed as he continues his drive to the radio station.

Grant finally makes it to the radio station where he works alongside technical assistant Laurel-Ann Drummond and station manager Sydney Briar. Tensions quickly rise as Grant's on-air personality annoys Sydney.

The radio team receives a report from their helicopter reporter, Ken Loney, about a violent incident at Dr. Mendez’s office, filled with sounds of chaos. The severity of the situation escalates when they realize they cannot confirm Ken's report due to disconnected witnesses.

Ken calls back with alarming news about an infected boy, the son of a prominent local citizen, who is mumbling disturbingly. Before he can relay more information, the call is interrupted by a strange transmission in garbled French.

The radio transmission delivers a dire instruction for residents to stay indoors and avoid certain language. Following this announcement, Pontypool is officially quarantined, heightening the tension among the radio team.

Inside the station, Laurel-Ann begins exhibiting bizarre behavior, fixating on the word 'missing' and imitating a boiling kettle. Her erratic condition becomes alarming as she starts to physically harm herself, shocking Grant and Sydney.

Dr. Mendez enters the scene, revealing his chilling theory that a virus has infected language itself, using specific words to spread. He explains that once these infected words are understood, the virus takes hold of the host, further complicating their situation.

As the chaos unfolds, Laurel-Ann succumbs to the infection and dies after violently attacking the booth. This grim event marks a turning point as the horde outside grows more aggressive, threatening the safety of Grant, Sydney, and Mendez.

In a bid to survive, Sydney plays a recorded loop of Grant’s voice to distract the mob outside. Meanwhile, Mendez discovers that speaking Armenian reduces the symptoms of the infection, revealing a potential method to combat the spread.

Seeing Sydney spiral into despair under the influence of the word 'kill', Grant attempts to reverse her condition by suggesting that 'kill' now means 'kiss'. This innovative approach allows them to regain some control.

With newfound knowledge, Grant and Sydney go live on air, sharing non-contradictory phrases aimed at helping their listeners. Despite warnings from authorities to cease broadcasting, they continue, hoping to reach anyone infected.

As the countdown to danger persists, the situation escalates. Grant and Sydney share a kiss in the booth, emphasizing their connection amid the turmoil, just as the screen goes dark.

As the credits roll, audio reports indicate that the quarantine has failed, suggesting the virus continues to spread. The film ends with a surprising shift to a stylized scene of Grant and Sydney, hinting at their escape.