Pulse

Play trailer

Pulse

PG-13

2006

1h 25m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

27%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After her boyfriend commits suicide, a psychology student (Kristen Bell) and her friends begin receiving unsettling e-mails and video messages. After a number of disappearances across campus, she teams up with a computer hacker (Ian Somerhalder) to shut down the deadly force before it spreads to the rest of the world.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Another stale American remake of a successful Japanese horror film, Pulse bypasses the emotional substance of the original and overcompensates with pumped-up visuals and every known horror cliche.

Read Critics Reviews

Brian Tallerico

UGO

03/24/2007

The unanswered questions in the original added to the mood, but by trying to answer even just a few of them, this Pulse just gets more confusing and less scary.

Go to Full Review

Nigel Floyd

Time Out

09/23/2006

As the ghosts suck the life out of their victims, the audience suffers the same fate.

Go to Full Review

Jamie Russell

BBC.com

09/05/2006

2/5

A remake that ain't an upgrade.

Go to Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefans

sbs.is

04/18/2021

1.5/5

Pulse is an ugly mess that makes little to no sense. I am sure I thought it looked quite cool in the naive 00s, but it's hypercontrasted-desaturated-blue/green-hued look has aged like milk in the sun.

Go to Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

04/11/2014

The potential it has to be an adult thriller is ruined because it's just more teen marketed crap.

Go to Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

04/04/2011

2/5

Read all reviews

Calvin T

@Calvin504 Aug 14

I should've checked here before I wasted my time

See more

Donald M

@smokeking Jul 1

its a must see movie

See more

Ian H

@Howellsey 01/21/2025

Middle of the road but could have done more with the concept and effects. Passable

See more

Farah R

@Farah 11/23/2024

Another failed attempt at remaking a successful Japanese horror movie as per the 2000s trend. Pulse is a mess in every possible sense, whether it’s the story, characters, or entire concept. The virus's origin is left unanswered which makes the whole thing feel like a complete waste of time.

See more

Casey G

@RT99611075 09/20/2024

I don't really understand the hate for this movie. Thought it was entertaining in 2006 and on rewatching it I still do now. Is it a 5? No. But I have seen much, much worse movies than this that somehow have similar review scores. A lot of reviewers complain about the grey/dreary/unhappy nature of the visuals and dialogue - but for real, it's a movie about a supernatural suicide epidemic. What were people expecting, fun? The movie is also slow but I don't agree that it's plotless. I dunno! I liked it. It feels like a lot of people went in expecting it to be something else.

See more

Zion J

@RT70870952 01/16/2024

I don't really like it when people remake a masterpiece of a movie and turning it into a mess, And this movie is one of the remakes. Now I will say, Some moments in the movie was ok that I didn't give it 1 star, It's still bad for me

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jim Sonzero

Director

Kristen Bell

Mattie

Ian Somerhalder

Dexter

Steve Talley

Marc

Christina Milian

Isabell

Samm Levine

Tim

Dark Skies

42%

49%

Dark Skies

Watchlist

The Box

42%

24%

The Box

Watchlist

Apollo 18

24%

23%

Apollo 18

Watchlist

Our House

62%

34%

Our House

Watchlist

The Gracefield Incident

11%

16%

The Gracefield Incident

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Gracefield Incident

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After her boyfriend commits suicide, a psychology student (Kristen Bell) and her friends begin receiving unsettling e-mails and video messages. After a number of disappearances across campus, she teams up with a computer hacker (Ian Somerhalder) to shut down the deadly force before it spreads to the rest of the world.

Director: Jim Sonzero
Producer: Michael Leahy, Joel Soisson, Anant Singh, Brian Cox
Screenwriter: Wes Craven, Tim Day, Vince Gilligan, Ray Wright
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Weinstein Company, Dimension Films, Neo Art & Logic, Distant Horizon
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Sci-Fi Terror|Disturbing Images|Language|Sensuality|Thematic Material)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.3M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS