Pulse (Kairo) (2001)

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]

• Ryan M

  
  7.4/10 "Pulse" is a horror film that chooses computer technology, and the existence of the afterlife, as its plot elements, and puts an unexpectedly thoughtful twist on each individual subject. It treats ghosts with care as much as it does computers. But the film is… More
  7.4/10 "Pulse" is a horror film that chooses computer technology, and the existence of the afterlife, as its plot elements, and puts an unexpectedly thoughtful twist on each individual subject. It treats ghosts with care as much as it does computers. But the film is not about message-making, and if it had been, then it would have been doomed from the start. The filmmakers who chose to film, direct, and write "Pulse" seemed to know that with this kind of film, you simply cannot deliver a powerful message. Yes, this film has more emotional substance than most horror movies, but honestly; it's all about how well the concept plays out in the end. Luckily for "Pulse", things work out pretty well indeed. The film has a good story going for it, and a couple damn fine scares thrown in to keep us entertained. It is, indeed, a horror film that wants to scare us. And scare us it does; and not in the cheap ways that one would expect. Instead of sending floods of CGI and effects, "Pulse" uses old-fashion scare tactics. It uses anticipation, suspense, and creepy music to set the intoxicatingly atmospheric mood. For this, I admired the film. It was sly, smartly made, and the filmmakers are obviously the real thing when it comes to horror. That is if "Pulse" is not their one and only good film. If it is, then I'll be damned; the boys did pretty well. If it's not their only feature, then I do anticipate watching what else they've got baked and ready for my tasting. I'd be excited to see what else they've whipped up over the years. Now, I don't quite love "Pulse". But it's a modern horror film, and it likes to use creepiness over gore, and I definitely can learn to admire that. This kind of technique does not always work, but it does here; and perhaps that is why "Pulse" is the entertaining piece of enjoyable horror filmmaking that it is. The film is about several people who attempt to solve a mystery involving an ominous computer "error", which comes up soon after the film's beginning. The film, like a lot of horror films before it, begins with a suicide; or a death, in general. This provokes our characters- who are definitely worth following- to ponder the strange error until the very end, only to learn that perhaps it is more than just an error. Maybe it is a message and not an error at all. It soon becomes clear that the messages are linked to ghosts and the world of the paranormal, and each group of characters search for the truth. Of course, it's not the most original horror film. But I do admire the techno-thriller aspect to the horror, and I also appreciate how scary the concept turns out to be. The film leaves a lot to the imagination of the viewer, and as long as you have a good imagination, you'll be able to see why this film is as down-right freaky as it is. Sometimes, "Pulse" scared the hell out of me, and also disturbed me; but not through gore. The film gets scares out of ideas and pure, raw tension. Why don't all horror films try this for a change? It seems to work well here. But then again, only some story-tellers, and only some talented filmmakers, can bring a horror movie to life and create intellect out of its premise. Most horror movies have good premises, and most of them waste the idea on bad characters and story-telling. This film takes its premise and embraces it. It basks in the brilliant, technological glory. Oh, how I enjoyed watching it unfold. The only problem I have is that the film runs out of scares when it is nearing its grand finale, which is decent enough, but doesn't end up being as emotionally impacting as it wants to be. Oh well; you can't have everything. But at least you can have a horror film as good as "Pulse". There is not much high demand when it comes to acting in this film. You simply need a screamer who is intelligent, as well as some equally as intelligent co-stars. Many horror films forget this, thus rendering them "poorly acted". It's damn good to see that the acting here rises above mediocrity. Haruhiko Kato is a likable hero, who seems to have the kind of depth that, while it is never explored, remains ominous and strange enough for us to want to know more about him. There's a certain charm to not knowing much about the character, and maybe this is why I found the performance to be good. Kumiko Aso also plays a singularly convincing heroin, who is endearing and worthy of following. You see, this film does have characters. Some horror films are winners because of their iconic characters and atmosphere (ex. "Hellraiser"), but this is a whole new breed of "horror movies with characters". I like my horror movies with interesting people. This one has people, not all of whom are interesting, but each individual it worthy of our attention in a number of ways. "Pulse" allows us to take a break from main-stream, overly tame, or overly gruesome horror films; and allows us some good escapism. This is a horror film that- while not a classic for the genre- is still plenty entertaining, intelligent, and brimming with cock-eyed brilliance. The premise is not as it seems, and the big twist is (*spoiler alert*) that the paranormal stuff is a sort of infection. This means that the film is going to feel a bit apocalyptic, and maybe even a bit emotional. This is good, because horror films work best when they embrace those unique stylistic elements. You can do a lot, stylistically, with a horror film that you cannot do with a film of any other genre. "Pulse" understands that style is not everything, and that a GOOD horror movie must have scares and a story. This film is good because it has both, and does not want to make failed attempts at intoxicating us through visuals. Yes, "Pulse" does LOOK mighty fine at moments. But this film is not about looks; it is about how we feel when we watch it. When I watched "Pulse", I felt uneasy. And yes, I felt scared, at times. The film has a creepy atmosphere with almost always works, and the style that the filmmakers were aiming for is admirable. They hit their target; and it is pretty clear that they are quite talented. They use music to amp up the scares, and few of the jumps feel forced or artificial. Nothing is truly cheap in "Pulse". This is a REAL horror film with REAL scares and a REAL premise, which it does not waste. For that, it's an easy recommendation. It has the pacing of any other ghost story- for some, it shall be painfully slow- but that's far from a turn-off. You should want to see "Pulse", that is unless horror is not your bag to begin with. Given how quite a few horror films, that have since been remade into cheap American replications, turn out to be no good at all; "Pulse" surprised me by being as good as it is. It's not a horror classic, and I know one of those when I see it, but there's an admirable style and feel to the horror, and it feels real (and not so real) enough for us to believe it. The film has characters, and has a good amount of twists. If you can dig what "Pulse" is trying to do, then you will enjoy it. If you don't admire the techno-thriller aspect, then that is that. Me, I still like "Pulse" quite a bit. Some think it is one of the best horror films of the past decade. I disagree with that. But hey, good is better than bad, and it's even better than mediocre. So even if "Pulse" is not perfect, it's still good enough to surprise and entertain enough to be solid. I admire it, I like it, and yes; I enjoyed it, admittedly. Perhaps the film does not introduce anything new for the genre of horror, but few horror films really do. As long as they can interest me, then I'm fine. And as long as they don't need to be excessively gruesome to do so, then hell; I'm fine with that as well. I'm fine with most of what's going on in "Pulse". I might as well be fine with all of it. It's good to know that it is that rare horror film that has spirit. You could even say it has a pulse.

• 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>.

• 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

Read all 20 featured audience ratings