Pulse
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Actors: Haruhiko Katô, Kumiko Asô, Koyuki
PlotIn Tokyo, a group of young people is puzzled by the sudden disappearance of their friend Taguchi, who had been working on a computer disk for a project. When one friend, Michi, checks on him, she discovers a disturbing scene, leading to the retrieval of the disk Taguchi was working on. This disk contains an eerie image that seems to be a doorway to another realm, and its influence begins to bleed into reality. Soon, other characters encounter strange phenomena linked to computers and the internet, seeing ghostly figures and receiving ominous messages. Slowly, the characters realize that the virtual world and the living world are blending in terrifying ways.
Parallel to this, a parallel storyline follows a college student, Ryosuke, who is trying to get his life and studies back on track. He encounters bizarre disruptions when his computer connects to the internet without any input and displays perplexing images. Seeking answers leads him to meet Harue, a computer science student who helps him investigate these digital anomalies. As the mysterious occurrences escalate, the apparitions become more frequent and aggressive, signaling a disturbing trend that threatens to engulf the living world. The characters' search for understanding and a way to stop the haunting becomes increasingly desperate as people around them start to fade away, succumbing to the ghostly presence that has invaded their reality.
Writers: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Release Date: 09 Nov 2005
Runtime: 119 min
Rating: R
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Home Video Reviews
Japanese Pulse is moodily engaging but slow, with video issues offset by Arrow's great extras. Recommended with caveats.
Read our review of Pulse Blu-ray to find out more