Pontypool: Critics are gushing over Bruce McDonald’s twisted tale of a zombie attack on the Ontario village of Pontypool, currently in theaters and set to bow in the U.S. on May 29. Eye Weekly’s Jason Anderson describes it as ‘a lean, mean little thriller that’s far brainier than most such tales of small-town apocalypse.’ Stephen McHattie stars as Grant Mazzy, a controversial DJ for the local radio station turned unlikely hero after zombies start terrorizing the town. The Globe and Mail’s Stephen Cole praises the film as a ‘smart, intriguing reshuffling of classic pop-culture influences,’ and concludes that Pontypool is ‘a testament to its besieged director’s audacity and vision.’

The Young Victoria: Quebec helmer Jean-Marc Vallée is drawing praise and scorn from European critics for his directing chops on the historical biopic The Young Victoria, which recently bowed in the U.K. Produced by Martin Scorsese, the film stars Emily Blunt as the titular monarch and follows her early rule and romance with her husband, Prince Albert. Glasgow’s Daily Record notes there’s ‘much to be admired in this well-acted, elegant and glossily shot movie,’ while The Yorker counters that Victoria ‘fails to live up to expectations.’ Sarah Tierney at the Liverpool Confidential says while Victoria ‘isn’t an exciting film… it is enjoyable.’

The Line: The Movie Network/Movie Central’s new cop series penned by acclaimed playwright George F. Walker (Due South, This Is Wonderland) is receiving the stamp of approval from critics, including The Globe and Mail’s John Doyle, who says the series, starring Ron White and Daniel Kash as two morally ambiguous cops, has ‘plenty of panache,’ though he adds that The Line gets ‘overheated’ with all that ‘anger, rage and aggression.’ Alex Strachan at Canwest News Service notes that the show ‘burns with ambition and creative energy,’ while The Toronto Star’s Rob Salem observes ‘Toronto has never looked seedier’ than in the ‘gritty, graphic, character-driven’ drama.

Compiled by Marise Strauss, Amy Haggar