Pulse (Kairo) (2001)

73% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(10,962 ratings)

As one of the most cutting-edge Japanese filmmakers, Kiyoshi Kurosawa once again wraps a lowbrow, much-maligned genre -- in this case horror flicks (which were the rage in Japan at the time of this release) -- around some decidedly highbrow philosophical concepts. At the film's outset, Michi (Kumiko… More As one of the most cutting-edge Japanese filmmakers, Kiyoshi Kurosawa once again wraps a lowbrow, much-maligned genre -- in this case horror flicks (which were the rage in Japan at the time of this release) -- around some decidedly highbrow philosophical concepts. At the film's outset, Michi (Kumiko Aso) and her cohorts at a rooftop nursery cannot get ahold of their co-worker, Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi), who has an important floppy disk. When she ventures over to his apartment, she finds him pale, listless, and unusually quiet -- that is until he suddenly hangs himself. While the suicide is disconcerting, what really freaks Michi out is that Taguchi's body seems to dissolve into the wall, leaving a sickly black stain. Meanwhile, college slacker Ryosuke Kawashima (Haruhiko Kato) logs onto the Internet for the first time even though he is not particularly fond of computers. Instead of stumbling into a porn site or a chat room, he finds himself in a most peculiar site -- he just sees ghostly images of other people going about their everyday life. Then the computer prompts him, asking, "Would you like to meet ghosts?" Even though he eventually pulls the plug, the machine still on occasion springs to life. He eventually consults a comely computer maven named Harue (Koyuki), who is also utterly baffled. As more and more Internet users seal themselves into their rooms with red duct tape and melt into black splotches, Kawashima and Michi independently come to discover that the Internet has become portal for an increasingly crowded afterlife. As Tokyo becomes increasingly depopulated, Kawashima and Michi cross paths. This film -- which also features cameos by Kurosawa regulars Koji Yakusho, Jun Fubuki, and Sho Aikawa -- was screened at the 2001 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Written By: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Nov 9, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Feb 21, 2006
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Where the average Japanese horror flick is petulant and nasty, Pulse is dolorous, shivery, and surreal.
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.
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.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
It's best just to give yourself over to its dizzy dreaminess and abstract analysis of the persistent, beckoning throb of the digital underground.
Tom Long, Detroit News
By the end of Pulse the world seemed a whole lot creepier place. I'm pretty sure that means it worked.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
You may go home and throw out your computer and lock the doors.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Not just the scariest sample of J-horror I've yet seen, but also the most profound
Steve Biodrowski, Cinefantastique
As vague and frustrating as the narrative can be, it does work up a considerable sense of impending doom, on an Apocalyptic scale, that separates it from other Japanese ghost stories.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
in the labyrinthine fabric of Pulse, different characters must all, one by one, confront their own isolation, insignificance and deepest, darkest despair.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
Some find it pulse-pounding, while others might be so bored they will have to check to make sure they still have a pulse by the time it's all over.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
Pulse is pulse-pounding horror that should not be missed by any fan of the genre.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Part meditation on the existential loneliness of Japanese society, part horror/sci-fi movie Pulse is often incomprehensible and the net effect is like being caught in a feverish dream . . .
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
(The remake) looks like it will hit the right notes, especially for American horror fans. But I don't think it will hear the mournful music of the original.
Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies
Pulse's craft as a dread-fest is superb.
Les Wright, culturevulture.net
Even the technology, employed to aesthetic end, creates less a sense of visual poetics than of out-of-date-ness.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
Pulse is emptied and perplexing at trying length.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

A plague of ghosts abduct the living, leaving Tokyo and the world nearly deserted. Confusing, creepy, ambitious J-horror that tries to say something about modern loneliness.
xGary X

A computer programmer succumbs to depression and suicide after viewing a mysterious website featuring enigmatic figures in morbid situations. One of the original of the new wave of J Horrors, Pulse actually has a far stronger premise than most; that the spirit world has become vastly… More
A computer programmer succumbs to depression and suicide after viewing a mysterious website featuring enigmatic figures in morbid situations. One of the original of the new wave of J Horrors, Pulse actually has a far stronger premise than most; that the spirit world has become vastly overpopulated and started to bleed into the living world. Unfortunately the story barely explores the implications of the idea til the last 20 minutes or so, leaving the vast majority of the rest of the film as a bunch of kids staring at pasty faced figures lurking in darkened corners and getting spooked by mysterious phone calls. In other words, exactly the same recipe as every other J Horror out there. It's quite atmospheric and the audio-visuals are occasionally interesting but by the time it had actually got to the point I didn't care any more. This may well be of interest to horror aficionados, but I'm just bored of the whole genre
Lee ?

There's a good film here, unfortunately it took me too long to realize it, then it finished. I found the story quite confusing to follow early-on so I had a tough time getting into it. Not so many scary moments either surprisingly, but there's a constant creepy atmosphere… More
There's a good film here, unfortunately it took me too long to realize it, then it finished. I found the story quite confusing to follow early-on so I had a tough time getting into it. Not so many scary moments either surprisingly, but there's a constant creepy atmosphere and a few moments that'll give you the chills. I really need to watch this again though when I'm in the mood.
Ariuza k

Well a not so scary film that seems to tend to really scar you with those really quite and just one liner camera scenes and a film that has a major apocalyptic twist to it. Yes it can be confusing but it's the most orginal idea I have seen it a long time for a ghost or horror… More
Well a not so scary film that seems to tend to really scar you with those really quite and just one liner camera scenes and a film that has a major apocalyptic twist to it. Yes it can be confusing but it's the most orginal idea I have seen it a long time for a ghost or horror movie but I wasn't so scared though as what people have been saying about it. Cool yet complicated story A new computer virus is spreading throw the new invention for its time called the internet but for some reason this virus seem to make people committee suicide or is a virus? No there ghosts and there invading for some reason and plan to infect the population of Japan. Main question is "Can They Be Stopped??" You will have to see it shocking ending. As I said its not scary like you would be told but some scenes scare you for some reason because there all quite and not moving. And you feel as if something will jump out. The acting is okay not brilliant or average just okay. I think that warehouse scene was the most ambiguous because what did happen to him exactly? But the acting from there on was slightly better or worse. Unlike its remake it's not full of over the top visuals effects that just riddle the film like the ghosts for example or scenes or just really anything. I think the best scene in this film was the scene were that lady or girl jumps with no cut away that my friends was just mad. I think the main theme to this entire movie is loneliness or something like that. And your will to live And how the world is coming to an end with those grudge like ghosts that are scarier then the film itself. But I think but the end you should somewhat view.
Keiko A

The philosophical premise of Kairo is nihilism expressed through loneliness. The superficial "connections" that one sustains with other people are conveyed as brittle, meaningless trivialities that shatter when confronted with the relentless isolation that exists on a much… More
The philosophical premise of Kairo is nihilism expressed through loneliness. The superficial "connections" that one sustains with other people are conveyed as brittle, meaningless trivialities that shatter when confronted with the relentless isolation that exists on a much deeper level. There are no cheap scares in this picture, as it relies on disturbing, long-sustained images highlighted by awkward ghost movements.. He has made no doubt the best horror movie ever made. Kiyoshi is a criminally unknown director who is undoubtedly the single best filmmaker in the history of Japanese horror cinema. Unfortunately, many people confuse greatness with influence. Hideo Nakata is not a great director, but he did influence the entire film-making industry with Ringu. Kiyoshi Kurosawa, on the other hand, just makes great films - Kairo, Cure, Charisma, Retribution, Séance, Loft, etc. That's the essential difference between excellence and mere market influence. The most outrageous criticism of Kiyoshi is that his films lack content. This is a patently false claim that holds no weight whatsoever. Taking Kairo as an example, there are a number of subtle references to LONELINESS throughout the entirety of the film - the literal isolation of characters, the individual dots expressed within the computer program, the patterns of dissolved ash, the influence of communication and information through both ghostly apparitions as well as red tape, apocalyptic doom, suicide, character mannerisms and interrelationships, etc. In other words, there's a boatload of content in Kairo. Those who say otherwise have no idea what they're talking about. This structure of film-making is one thing that makes Kiyoshi so amazing. He takes a simple concept like loneliness and creates a constellation of phenomena that reference back to the underlying theme of the film. Don't fool yourself: the entertainment value of Japanese horror is frequently about content, and Kairo is a perfect horror movie largely because of its philosophical elements. How many other films can make the same claim? What more do you people want? How the massive quantity of content within Kiyoshi's cinematic portfolio goes unnoticed is beyond me. The only possible explanation is that his stunning talent for creating dense atmosphere leads some viewers to overlook his content. Still, there's no excuse for missing it. For example, there are tons of reviews for Tsai Ming-liang's dreadfully atrocious Viva L'Amour that gloat about that movie's depiction of solitude. I read these reviews with the knowledge that Kairo gets little to no credit for its truly amazing portrayal of loneliness. But that's not all. We have even more ludicrous complaints coming from Westerners like, "The Japanese take their horror films too seriously." I laugh when hearing stuff like this. God forbid someone actually puts some effort into making a horror film. Has the Hollywood horror industry really crumbled to the point where even their most fervent followers don't expect anything remotely ambitious? That's a pretty pathetic state to be in. The point of this review-turned-rant is to simply point out the obvious: Kiyoshi Kurosawa is the greatest Japanese horror filmmaker that ever lived. It might just be my opinion, but considering how any and all criticism seems to be based on illogic or narrow-mindedness, there's really no valid reason for believing otherwise. Keiko's score 100% (not really a review something I type up while watching the film.
E.J. B

It is unsettling, but it fails to deliver the scares.
Stella D

i wasn't always sure what was happening but it was pretty damn creepy. now i want to see cure
_kelly .

Suffers from a slow pace, typical of ghost movies, but the number of times I checked the running length was pretty absurd (over seven). The plot specifics was at times indecipherable because of the cutting and some intentional ambiguity; also I think something may have been lost in… More
Suffers from a slow pace, typical of ghost movies, but the number of times I checked the running length was pretty absurd (over seven). The plot specifics was at times indecipherable because of the cutting and some intentional ambiguity; also I think something may have been lost in the sub translation (I saw the version at Netflix). On the positive, of which there is a significant chunk: the ghosts are actually scary. The visual team here very much understands the aspects of pixelated cameras that is creepy and lends itself to horror cinematography. The way these ghosts move is truly odd and frightening. The atmosphere of creepiness and loneliness is thick, only I wish the feeling of loneliness had increased throughout the film and not stayed level. The sound design is also incredible and scary; the dark patches that people disappear into are eerie and unique. Overall, a great modern ghost film.
Bruce B

Japanese Horror is Real Horror. This is Cutting Edge. This was out long before the American Version, Japanese Version Foucus on Horror and keeping watcher on the edge of his seat, American version seem to foucus on Pretty Non Talented Teenage Girls. Worth adding to the collection
Kylie B

Some parts are genuinely creepy. The music really makes the film. I liked the begining but I'm not sure about the end. Unlike many Asian horror films (and most horror films in general), there doesn't seem to be much of a resolution or explanation - but that perhaps makes the… More
Some parts are genuinely creepy. The music really makes the film. I liked the begining but I'm not sure about the end. Unlike many Asian horror films (and most horror films in general), there doesn't seem to be much of a resolution or explanation - but that perhaps makes the film more unsettling.
Luke B

A slow and brooding piece of atmospheric genius. Not exactly scary whilst you are watching it, it hits you later when you're all alone. Great effects and acting. Once again Japanese horror proves you don't need loud noises and a scratchy soundtrack with fast edits to make a… More
A slow and brooding piece of atmospheric genius. Not exactly scary whilst you are watching it, it hits you later when you're all alone. Great effects and acting. Once again Japanese horror proves you don't need loud noises and a scratchy soundtrack with fast edits to make a horror movie. In fact i'd strongly advise against it.
Tsubaki S

Starts intriguing enough but looses focus towards the end. The attempt of social commentary towards the isolation in Japanese society gets too muddled in the second half, and it just doesn't seem very clear what was the director aiming at. Still, you can bet the original is way… More
Starts intriguing enough but looses focus towards the end. The attempt of social commentary towards the isolation in Japanese society gets too muddled in the second half, and it just doesn't seem very clear what was the director aiming at. Still, you can bet the original is way more ambitious in it's intentions that the remake. The film does contain a couple of good scares, and thankfully doesn't fall into the idiotic levels that Suicide Club fell on with it's silly "social critique". But Kiyoshi Kurosawa can, and has done better.
Drew S

A sad, lonely movie. See it with a friend or try not to think about it too much - otherwise, you'll probably end up going to sleep extremely depressed. This isn't so much a horror movie as a "weigh down your soul and show you what might happen to us" movie. If… More
A sad, lonely movie. See it with a friend or try not to think about it too much - otherwise, you'll probably end up going to sleep extremely depressed. This isn't so much a horror movie as a "weigh down your soul and show you what might happen to us" movie. If there's one movie that shows us the importance of the human element, it's Kairo. It's a shame that the remake lost all of the meaning and subtlety (and quality) of this version.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Pulse", a computer programmer has gone missing and is late delivering a promised program to a florist. When Michi(Kumiko Aso) goes to his apartment, she discovers that he has hanged himself.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Pulse", a computer programmer has gone missing and is late delivering a promised program to a florist. When Michi(Kumiko Aso) goes to his apartment, she discovers that he has hanged himself.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Meanwhile, Kawashima(Haruhiko Kato), a college economics student, is logging onto the internet for the first time with the help of a computer expert, Harue(Koyuki). Hoping to make new friends, his experience does not turn out quite as expected when he stumbles across a disturbing website. And even after he logs off, somebody is trying to connect with his computer...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, "Pulse" is a flat movie that squanders the interesting premise of a modern urban ghost story on themes of loneliness in the city.(A computer program in the movie where dots both repel and swallow up other dots, pretty much spells this out.) Here, the city is seen as bleak and dead as the city was in "Seven", instead of being a vibrant center of activity. The movie is not scary, creepy or even spooky, with only a couple of mild jolts to the system. However, it does get some credit for ending up where it does.[/font]
Lesley N

Japanese "horror" film about people getting infected with depression and spontaneous combustion via computers. I didn't find it particularly horrorful or even very creepy, more thought-provoking, in that phillosophical "modern life is alienating us all" kind… More
Japanese "horror" film about people getting infected with depression and spontaneous combustion via computers. I didn't find it particularly horrorful or even very creepy, more thought-provoking, in that phillosophical "modern life is alienating us all" kind of way. <img src="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2008/07/30/pulse460.jpg">
Duncan R

It drags a bit in parts, but as far as being an atmospheric and genuinely creepy horror flick, it succeeds. It's up there with <i>Ringu</i> and <i>Ju-On</i>.
Tobias X

Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The only J-Horror filmmaker that I feel really matters. He does for horror what Tarkovsky did for science-fiction.
Jared H

The whole Japanese horror genre isn't quite my bag. But I was intrigued. Some weird stuff going on here.
Nicky M

The effects were pretty good but the movie moved soooooooo slow. Not my favorite Japanese horror film. Maybe I need to watch it again when I'm not tired. Subtitled.
alan j

eerie, intelligent, vague, atmospheric, shades of gray