Pulse (2006/I)

Director:

Jim Sonzero

Writers (WGA):

Wes Craven (screenplay) and
Ray Wright (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

11 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

You are now infected.

Plot:

When their computer hacker friend accidentally channels a mysterious wireless signal, a group of co-eds rally to stop a terrifying evil from taking over the world.

Plot Keywords:

Technology | Computer | Psychology | Suicide | Epidemic

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kristen Bell	...	Mattie
Ian Somerhalder	...	Dexter
Christina Milian	...	Isabelle Fuentes
Rick Gonzalez	...	Stone
Jonathan Tucker	...	Josh
Samm Levine	...	Tim
Octavia Spencer	...	Landlady (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Ron Rifkin	...	Dr. Waterson
Joseph Gatt	...	Dark Figure
Kel O'Neill	...	Douglas Zieglar
Zach Grenier	...	Professor Cardiff
Riki Lindhome	...	Janelle
John Burke	...	Newscaster
Mike J. Regan	...	Phantom (as Mike Regan)
Steve Tom	...	Male Newscaster #2

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi terror, disturbing images, language, sensuality and thematic material.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Indonesia:Dewasa | Taiwan:R-12 | Philippines:R-13 | USA:R (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (Edited for re-rating) | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U (cut) | Argentina:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Weinstein Company, The

Trivia:

Bob Weinstein canceled the film considering it to be too similar to The Ring.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Although the movie is set in Ohio, Mattie is shown coming from an underground subway system. Comlumbus Ohio does not have a subway line.

Quotes:

Douglas Zieglar: The last thing you want, the last thing you ever want is for them to get to you. 'Cause when they grab ahold, they will take your will to live. Everything that made you you is gone. You don't want to talk, you don't want to move. You're a shell.

Movie Connections:

References Predator (1987)

Soundtrack:

Delay the Wait

A solid, sometimes rewarding look at modern living

Pulse is a relatively close translation of a subtle Japanese horror film called "Kairo". Unlike its brethren (Ring, Grudge, etc.) Kairo was less a fantastical horror film than a grim psychological look at modern, tech-laden urban living. Despite a lot of slick looking supernatural content, Pulse largely succeeds in preserving the focus of the original--steering our attention to individuals rather than ghosts or evil entities.

The plot, which some will find tough to embrace, has a computer virus interacting with ghosts of some kind. The end result is a suicide pandemic striking all known urban areas. To the extent that the film focuses on ghosts and computers, it is easy to fault the plot for its lack of continuity and simplistic explanations--and this is really the central problem with the film; not the plot mind you, but the extent to which the film gets side-tracked with expository content that shifts focus away from the individuals struggling with depression and isolation to its devices (ghosts/computers).

Minus the ending and superfluous explanations, Pulse is good. And relevant. And really, relevance is what makes it good. It's not tough to spot the growing paradox of ever-increasing connectedness and isolation in our world of text messages, email and mass-produced culture. Pulse uses this paradox and exaggerates, and to a large extent, succeeds in provoking thought and maybe a glimmer of recognition.