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Pulse

Play trailer Poster for Pulse R Released Feb 10, 2001 1h 59m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After college student Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi) commits suicide, a number of young adults living in Tokyo witness terrifying visions transferred across the Internet. As more people disappear throughout the city, the Internet becomes a breeding ground for malevolent spirits. Three seemingly disconnected stories follow Michi (Kumiko Asô), Ryosuke (Haruhiko Katô) and Harue (Koyuki) as they attempt to solve the mystery behind the ghostly visions that are seeping beyond their computer monitors.
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Critics Consensus

A sinister spine-tingling techno-thriller whose artistry lies in the power of suggestion rather than a barrage of blood and guts or horror shop special effects.

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Critics Reviews

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Wesley Morris Boston Globe Where the average Japanese horror flick is petulant and nasty, Pulse is dolorous, shivery, and surreal. Rated: 3/4 Feb 24, 2006 Full Review Walter V. Addiego San Francisco Chronicle It's an apocalyptic ghost story with some eerie images and a surprising turn toward the end, but it bogs down considerably between the good scenes. Rated: 2/4 Dec 16, 2005 Full Review Bob Longino Atlanta Journal-Constitution It's not about blood, gore and oozing innards but unsettling creepiness that gets under a moviegoer's skin and makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Rated: B- Dec 15, 2005 Full Review Pieter-Jan Van Haecke Psychocinematography Pulse is an extra-ordinary apocalyptic horror narrative that explores, in a refined way, the destructive impact of consumption... Oct 26, 2022 Full Review Stephanie Archer Film Inquiry It is deeply enlightening, haunting, and unbelievably relevant 20 years later. If you are looking for an old classic or a new horror love, make Kairo a must-see. May 1, 2021 Full Review Austin Trunick Under the Radar Kurosawa doesn't rely on gore or violence to make his specters haunting, but on their inhumanness and otherworldliness. Oct 18, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Aidan B While the fact the fact the film is as bonechilling as it is without a single jump scare being used is a massive feat in and of itself, the dull pacing, predictable story, and incredibly underwhelming finale make "Pulse" an overall disappointing but admittedly frightening watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/23/25 Full Review Ian S Maybe the slow build up was a negative but it didn't detract from the overall effect and the ideas about loneliness and technology. One of the best Japanese horror films of the past 25 years and one of the best movies about the dangers of the internet. What is prescient and creepy now must have been even more chilling in 2001. Far superior to the American remake and much more subtle. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/23/25 Full Review MikesReviewsArt n 80% “Before black mirror, there was pulse Japanese version” The horrors of technology what It can do, we can isolate people the over usage of it, the lack of human connection. Accept death as a part of life cycle, but also enjoy life while you’re in the living. Love the subtlety in the scares of shadows in the background or creepy looking people. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/26/25 Full Review Audience Member Very good classic J Horror movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/01/24 Full Review xenounde0 My most favorite movie of all time. Better with every watch. Not the utterly scarring horror movie a lot of people make it out to be, but it's beautifully crafted. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Zion J I really couldn't understand why it was so long, Well. This is nothing new to me sense I have watched movies that are longer then this. Sure it's Boring, But they set perfect examples into Pulse on what a real horror movie should be like. 8/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis After college student Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi) commits suicide, a number of young adults living in Tokyo witness terrifying visions transferred across the Internet. As more people disappear throughout the city, the Internet becomes a breeding ground for malevolent spirits. Three seemingly disconnected stories follow Michi (Kumiko Asô), Ryosuke (Haruhiko Katô) and Harue (Koyuki) as they attempt to solve the mystery behind the ghostly visions that are seeping beyond their computer monitors.
Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Screenwriter
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia
Rating
R (Some Violent Images)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 10, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Surround
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