Pulse

Name: Pulse
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: August 12, 2005
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Haruhiko Katô, Koyuki, Kumiko Asô

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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Pulse

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: August 12, 2005 | Not Rated

Starring: Haruhiko Katô, Koyuki, Kumiko Asô

Summary: Two groups of people discover evidence that suggests spirits may be trying to invade the human world through the Internet.

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

If one masterpiece were to emerge from the recent glut of generally good quality Japanese horror movie, this chilling apocalyptic ghost story from Kyroshi Kurosawa is it. Read full review

Anita Gates

The most horrifying thing in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's fiercely original, thrillingly creepy Pulse (released as "Kairo," or "Circuit," in Japan) is the way the ghosts move. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Storytelling clarity has never been a Kurosawa strong suit, yet Pulse baffles even under those standards, so it's best to just get on his abstract wavelength and ride the thing out. Read full review

Derek Elley

Result is always watchable, occasionally creepy and teasingly pitched halfway between a genre riff and a genuine scarefest. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

The film's ideas are provocative, yet vague and unfully formed. It's much like Pulse itself, which is a bit too long, despite several great sequences. Read full review

J. Hoberman

With very few strong characters and a great many middle shots, Pulse sometimes plods--it's the price of Kurosawa's restraint and his indifference to structure. Read full review

J.R. Jones

But the big scare scenes seem particularly isolated here, supported by neither the flat characters nor the vague plot. Read full review

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User Reviews

Jenny

Feb 28, 2006

Loved it. There were a few cheeseball scenes, but overall was a creepy departure from the usual. I found many scenes absolutely riveting and original, depsite somewhat of a lack of cohesive narrative to drive the story.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Arsal

Sep 20, 2007

Kairo is an utter masterpiece. Nothing less, nothing more. It's not so much as the usual 'jump-because-we-said-so' horror movies being churned out as of late. It's atmospheric, dark, surreal, almost dream-like in some scenes. Recommended to everyone who's sick of Kairo is an utter masterpiece. Nothing less, nothing more. It's not so much as the usual 'jump-because-we-said-so' horror movies being churned out as of late. It's atmospheric, dark, surreal, almost dream-like in some scenes. Recommended to everyone who's sick of blood and guts being spurted at the screen for no reason, and to fans of art-house cinema.… Expand

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TheQuietGamer

Aug 11, 2020

More than just a simple horror movie, Pulse uses its concept of ghosts invading the world through the internet as a metaphor for the sense of loneliness and isolation that can come from social networking. Originally intended as a means of letting us all establish a greater connection to oneMore than just a simple horror movie, Pulse uses its concept of ghosts invading the world through the internet as a metaphor for the sense of loneliness and isolation that can come from social networking. Originally intended as a means of letting us all establish a greater connection to one another, our always online society has instead revealed how distant we actually are from those around us, and not from a simply physical standpoint either. As we grow older and life gets more demanding it's become only natural to turn to the web to form and maintain bonds with other people. These links prove artificial however as they lack an emotional depth that's already difficult to establish with another person, while also proving no substitute for real, in the flesh interaction. Facing this revelation can be quite depressing and could ultimately leave you feeling more alone than ever. This is something the film portrays incredibly well. Even after all these years the people behind Pulse's creation were so ahead of the curve in terms of recognizing where our now largely digital lives were going to take us that this is still a relevant viewing experience despite the evolution of the technology it's centered around.

Of course, it is also very creepy. I wouldn't call it outright scary, but I did certainly get the heebie-jeebies from things like the way the ghosts move or the ominous webcam feeds that pop-up on the characters' computers without their consent. All the spooky bits are brought to life by unique visual effects that often make creative use of shadows and lighting to give the specters a distinctively otherworldly quality. All of which pairs nicely with the soundtrack to create a wonderfully tense atmosphere anytime things take a turn for the supernatural.

The feature's length is the sole thing I take any sort of fault with as it comes in at just under a meaty two hours. Even then though there's not a single scene or moment that feels unnecessary, and I was never legitimately bored at any point. So it's really more of a personal quibble than a legitimate issue. Yet, at the same time I did stop a few times while watching this to check and see how much was left only to end up saying to myself, "Wow, I still have THAT much left to get through?"

Cleverly using encounters with the spirits of the long-deceased as a means of symbolizing each character's realization of their lack meaningful relationships with the living, Pulse is concerned with a bit more than just freaking you out. This is horror with a message that is as poignant and melancholy as it is frightening due to how true to life its thematic content is. In hindsight, watching this after recently rejoining Facebook probably wasn't the smartest choice on my part.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLau

Sep 27, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ghosts are invading our world making people give up on life and all the people dying leaves a plant shop short of employees.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jul 11, 2022

The atmosphere achieved is quintessential of the horror genre in Japan during those years and that's a huge plus, but it has some brutal pace drops that make it tedious in several passages.
That's something I found both surprising and disappointing from a director like Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
It'sThe atmosphere achieved is quintessential of the horror genre in Japan during those years and that's a huge plus, but it has some brutal pace drops that make it tedious in several passages.
That's something I found both surprising and disappointing from a director like Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
It's meant to be a critique of isolation, but it falls short in its exploration of that concept.

It's not what I would consider actually disposable, but there's very little to salvage overall from this horror film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

keithw.

Nov 20, 2005

Twilight Zone far superior edit edit edit!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EdwardV.

Feb 28, 2006

This movie is a damn boring and useless piece of crap. I just spent money on two rentals including this one and Memory Killer, another waste of time,because of the positive reviews by the critics on this site, so I am very angry.It seems that some reviewers on here have an unnatural This movie is a damn boring and useless piece of crap. I just spent money on two rentals including this one and Memory Killer, another waste of time,because of the positive reviews by the critics on this site, so I am very angry.It seems that some reviewers on here have an unnatural prejudice FOR these cheap, vague, and dark foreign movies. I am making a list of the positive reviewers, including Ken Fox,Sean Axmaker, AnitaGates and Michael Wilmington, and I won't trust their reviews ever again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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