The Pontypool Virus' Vector

  My first instinct when considering the virus vector in Pontypool is that it’s an example of time bias. The way the virus connects to oral culture, and the way understanding of the word seems to dictate who gets infected would indicate that the infection is fleeting, and relies on memory, context, and understanding to spread. 

However, after considering further, I think that is more indicative of the virus itself rather than the vector (the thing that carries the virus). The vector, and perhaps the thing that makes the virus so prolific, is the radio. The virus’ ability to spread across space rather than just time is an underlying force throughout the entire story.

To start, Mazzy’s spread of the term “Honey” through the missing cat announcement was likely one way the virus spread. While Mazzy and the radio team understood the word as a name and not a term of endearment, listeners may not have received that context and heard the word in the way the French broadcast warned against using. 

The radio team also broadcasts many calls from possibly infected individuals, including audio of someone succumbing to the virus. This isn’t confirmed to spread the virus directly, but we hear at the end of the movie that the virus has spread to England. This is likely due to the BBC broadcasting Mazzy’s voice on their airways, proving not only that radio transmission can carry the virus, but that Mazzy himself is likely a carrier.