Bruce McDonald Movies

The founding members of a legendary female punk outfit are reunited years after their band imploded, and spend a long night reflecting on both their fractured friendship, as well as their moment in the spotlight in this raucous drama from director Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo, Pontypool). Ever since they were little girls, Victoria "Vic" Sawchyn (Tracy Wright) and Kathryn "Kat" Lake (Molly Parker) were inseparable. Eventually, Victoria and Kathryn started making music together. Dubbed Trigger, their punk-inspired band went through numerous line-up changes before hitting the perfect formula, and storming the charts. Then as quickly as success came, clashing egos and rampant excess brought it crumbling down like a house of cards. Unfortunately, Victoria and Kathryn's friendship appeared to die along with Trigger. A decade later, however, a small record label announces a benefit concert staged to celebrate women who rock. It's clear that the owners of the label expect Victoria and Kathryn to take part in the event, but when the two former friends come together over dinner both end up feeling responsible for the band's demise. Later, after the concert has ended, the two old friends prepare to attend an after-party, and the details of their turbulent relationship slowly come into focus. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Bruce McDonald, critically acclaimed director of The Tracey Fragments, teams with author Tony Burgess to adapt Burgess' own novel about a small town in the grip of a mysterious frenzy. It may be Valentine's Day, but for caustic radio personality Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) that's just another reason to be miserable. Mazzy used to be a certified radio superstar, but working in Pontypool is a far shot from working in the big city. Today, however, as Mazzy prepares for his regular routine of reading the weather, updating school closings, and pleading his case for a little on-air controversy to producer Sydney Bryer (Lisa Houle), the appearance of an unexpected figure signals the beginning of a disturbing phenomenon in the small town of Pontypool. Heading to work, Mazzy is nearly run over by a distraught woman who seems to have lost her grip on reality. Later, reports of a shoot-out between provincial police and a group of local ice fishers are made even more bizarre by the revelation that they were all screaming gibberish, running around nude, and missing body parts. By the time a riot breaks out in Dr. Mendez's (Hrant Alianak) office, it's obvious to Mazzy that the residents of Pontypool are suffering from a strange form of contagious dementia, but what has caused this bizarre outbreak and, more importantly, how can it be stopped? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A series of massive tidal waves decimate the entire East Coast, leading a renegade expert on man made ecological disasters and weapons of mass destruction to suspect that a force far more human than Mother Nature is at work in this terrifying mini-series starring Angus Macfayden, Tom Skerritt, and Karin Vanasse. The first wave hit the East Coast without warning, with subsequent tsunamis following in quick succession. Before long towns all along the coast have been destroyed, and scientists are at a loss to explain just where these gigantic waves originated. When top scientists fail to find a conventional explanation for the waves, renegade ecological expert John McAdams (Macfayden) is called upon to offer a hypothesis. Upon consulting with Oceanographic Institute genius Sophie Marleau (Vanasse), McAdams begins to suspect that the waves are man made disasters specifically designed to keep the population in check. After McAdams makes his suspicions public, another scientist attempts to uncover who is behind the conspiracy and is promptly murdered - leaving McAdams as the prime suspect in the killing. Later, McAdams discovers the true identity of the terrorist whose sub-aquatic nuclear missiles are holding an entire country in fear. But as the earth begins to quake and the seas begin to swell once again, it may already be too late to stop the latest attack. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ted (Scott Lowell) has his gay porn website, "Jerkatwork.net," up and running. While it's just live streaming video of guys pleasuring themselves, Ted naturally thought to include a "boss screen" to protect those who visit the site while they should be working. Michael (Hal Sparks) has a lot of work to do to get the comic store running smoothly, but Emmett (Peter Paige), Deb (Sharon Gless), and Vic (Jack Wetherall) are all pitching in. Michael also meets Ben (Robert Gant), a handsome professor from Carnegie Mellon who's looking for comic books with a gay subtext. When he discovers what an expert Michael is on the subject, he invites him to give a lecture to his class. Michael has many qualms about giving the lecture, but he's certainly attracted to Ben. Justin (Randy Harrison) convinces the art school to let him stay on by showing the dean some of his new work, created with the assistance of a computer. Justin and Brian (Gale Harold) are behaving more and more like a couple, but the rest of the gang don't expect that to last. Sure enough, their relationship is tested when Justin comes home to find Brian in bed with another guy. Ted turns to Emmett for help when his main "performer" quits suddenly due to Ted's miserly ways. Emmett turns out to have a surprising talent. Lindsay (Thea Gill) lets Mel (Michelle Clunie) know she's disgusted with Ted's newfound career, prompting Mel to reveal a secret about her own past. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Michael (Hal Sparks) decides to throw Ben (Robert Gant) a surprise birthday party, and steals his Palm Pilot so he can get phone numbers for all of Ben's friends. Despite Ben's expressed desire to celebrate quietly, Michael enlists Emmett (Peter Paige) to design a big Far East-themed soiree. Michael isn't sure whether or not to invite Debbie (Sharon Gless), who still doesn't seem to accept his relationship. Things go badly when Ben delivers an unhappy surprise of his own. Justin (Randy Harrison) is also having a birthday, but Brian (Gale Harold) lets everyone know that he doesn't believe that the mere act of being born is worthy of celebration. So Melanie (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill) cheer Justin up by taking him to a concert, where he's attracted to Ethan (Fabrizio Filippo), a hot young violin prodigy. Justin approaches Ethan after the concert, and sparks fly, but Justin breaks things off to go back to Brian, who, shamed by Debbie, has arranged a Brian-style birthday surprise for Justin. Ted (Scott Lowell), meanwhile, tries to raise Emmett's spirits by taking him to a festive gay church service. There, Ted meets Luke (Jason Knight), and they hit it off. Their relationship develops quickly, but Ted has trouble telling the saintly Luke that he runs a porn site for a living. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Canadian cult director Bruce McDonald spins this slick noir-thriller about an innocent outsider caught up in the gritty underworld of Toronto. After narrowly escaping her East End Montréal apartment getting torched by a sadistic motorcycle gang, Claire (Juliette Lewis) flees for Toronto where she believes her long lost lover Billy can help her out. Unfortunately, she knows no one else in the city, since Billy is no where to be found, and she does not speak a word of English. She soon encounters sleazy gangster Eddie (Mickey Rourke) and his tough-as-nails moll, Lily (Gina Gershon), who try to draw her into their sleazy business manners. When one of the deals turns ugly, Claire is forced to flee for her life into the heart of the city. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Canadian filmmaker James Dunnison directs this campy horror flick about a guy and his mother. Scrawny, leather-clad Phillip (Max Danger) is a misfit living in the basement of his mother's Toronto townhouse. Her bullying ways push him over the edge, and Phillip blows her away. Fortunately, he comes across an ancient ring that has the power to reanimate the dead. Unfortunately, his discovery provokes a horde of angry vampires. Between savage battles with mom and the undead, Phillip finds the time to fall for a sexy young medical receptionist (Sandra Guerard) who sports a different wig every time they meet. This film was screened at the 1999 Vancouver Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Bruce McDonald directed this mock-documentary (and appears onscreen as himself) which looks at a veteran punk rock band taking one final stab at the big time. Singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon), guitarist Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie), bassist John Oxenberger (John Pyper-Fergson), and drummer Pipefitter (Bernie Coulson) were the members of Hard Core Logo, a Vancouver-based rock band that was one of Canada's biggest and most influential punk outfits for the better part of a decade. Formed in 1978, Hard Core Logo broke up in 1991 after releasing seven albums and playing over a thousand shows; Joe went on to play the occasional solo gig, Billy moved to L.A. and has been sitting in with platinum-selling alternative pop band Jennifur while their guitarist tries to kick drugs, John has been putting his life back together after a severe nervous breakdown, and Pipefitter hasn't been doing much of anything. Word begins to circulate that Bucky Haight (Julian Richings), one of the seminal figures of Canadian punk and Joe's mentor, lost a leg (or maybe both) following a mysterious incident in which intruders shot him after breaking into his prairie farmhouse. Joe organizes a benefit for Bucky, with Hard Core Logo reuniting for the occasion; the show is a huge success, and Joe persuades Billy to join him, John, and Pipefitter for a five-date reunion tour to cash in on the benefit's notoriety. Billy, killing time while he waits to find out if his spot in Jennifur will become permanent, is more than a bit preoccupied, and his desire for professionalism doesn't mesh especially well with Joe's take-it-as-it-comes attitude -- especially after it becomes evident that Joe's purposes for reuniting the band weren't as benevolent as they seemed. Actual Canadian punk legends D.O.A. make a cameo appearance as one of Hard Core Logo's opening acts, and American punk godfather Joey Ramone appears briefly in a news report about the Bucky Haight benefit show. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This Canadian drama based on a book by W.P. Kinsella, examines the tension between Indians and Anglos in Canada from an Indian perspective. Silas Crow, who lives on a Northern Ontario reserve, wants to take a mechanic's course in Toronto with his friend Frank Fencepost. But before he can enroll, the teen must write a short narrative describing his home. The film is a series of vignette's from Crow's narrative. The vignette's are alternately funny and poignant. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Highway 61 is an offbeat, comedic road movie about a small-town Canadian barber (Don McKellar) who finds a dead body. When a woman claiming to be the corpse's roadie sister (Valerie Buhagiar), arrives in town, he agrees to drive her and the body from Ontario to New Orleans, following Highway 61 over the entire journey. Along the way, they meet several odd characters. Though the story is poorly-paced, it has enough off-center humor and the performances are engaging enough to make it worthwhile. Rockers Jello Biafra and Tav Falco make cameos. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Like its title, Roadkill is a little flat and moldy at times, but generally effective. Concert promoter Valerie Buhagiar decides to look for a legendary "lost" band called The Children of Paradise, in hopes of staging a lucrative comeback tour. Buhagiar's odyssey takes her through the backroads of Canada. En route, she stumbles upon a thrill killer-and he's one of the more normal people that she meets. Director Bruce McDonald doubles as one of the film's stars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi