Bruce McDonald’s latest feature is headed to the Toronto International Film Festival with Maple Pictures, which has acquired the Canadian rights to his horror Pontypool.

The deal, announced on Sunday, was negotiated by Maple co-president Brad Pelman and SVP of theatrical John Bain, and producer Ambrose Roche and executive producer J. Miles Dale on behalf of the film.

Pontypool — adapted from the novel Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess — marks McDonald’s first foray into horror. The story is about a virus that takes over a community, affecting the language they speak and turning residents into cannibalistic zombies. It stars Stephen McHattie (Shoot ‘Em Up, Maurice Richard) and Lisa Houle (Emily of New Moon).

‘We are very proud to have Bruce’s next film on our slate,’ commented Pelman in a release. ‘His vision as a daring filmmaker and a master of stylized cinema is clearly evident in Pontypool.’

Pontypool will have its world premiere in TIFF’s Vanguard program.