The 2001 film “Pulse” is dark. Both in its plot and in its presentation. Written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, “Pulse” was one of the first techno-horror films of the modern era. Coming at the dawn of the internet, the story successfully uses computers and the World Wide Web for its narrative.
I was brought to the film after seeing a review of one particular scene. A scene purported as an all-time terrifying movie moment. I knew what was coming, so I won’t spoil it here. I’ll say this – the scene is excellent, and will have your spine shivering.
“Pulse” is visually unsettling. Its atmosphere is foggy, coupling a bland palette with low-definition video. Kiyoshi Kurosawa does a masterful job of making the viewer feel uneasy before any of the horror elements even begin. Simple scenes of characters talking or riding the subway are framed in such a way that we the viewer are feeling dread. But we don’t exactly know why.
The score is subdued. There are no extravagant songs or jarring moments when horror is happening. Eerie, almost soothing music from Takefumi Haketa plays subtly throughout. It sets the mood for horror quite well.
Would you like to meet a ghost?
“Pulse” follows two separate stories, both similar in concept. Characters are plagued by haunting images. Images coming to them on their computers. Reminder that computers and internet are new to them at the time. Themes of death, the afterlife, the paranormal, depression, loneliness and despair are at the center. The images shown can be visceral at times, but nothing is overdone.
The cast is excellent. Kumiko Asō, Kurume Arisaka, and Masatoshi Matsuo star in one story while Haruhiko Kato and Koyuki Kato are featured in the other. Each story is filled with emotional charged moments that will compel you to keep watching (and reading subtitles).
My only complaint comes from the length. “Pulse” clocks in at 119 minutes. That’s not bad. But the final act is quite lengthy and dry. I was edge-of-the-seat terrified for the first half of the film. The sluggish pacing took me out of that state. Trimming ten minutes and combining the two stories into one may have been better.
The movie should also come with a WARNING! There are several graphic scenes and images of self-harm and death in this picture, and the lack of CGI makes them incredibly realistic. For me, it added to the uneasy creepiness of the horror. Others may finds them too disturbing to watch.
“Pulse” is a good horror film. If you don’t mind reading subtitles, it’s worth watching. By the end, you’ll be scared to turn your computer on.
“Pulse” is currently available to stream on Amazon.
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