Pulse

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Pulse

R,

2001,

1h 59m,

Horror/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

75%

53 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

53 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.

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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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Feb 24, 2006

3/4

Where the average Japanese horror flick is petulant and nasty, Pulse is dolorous, shivery, and surreal.

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Walter V. Addiego

San Francisco Chronicle

Dec 16, 2005

2/4

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.

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Bob Longino

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dec 15, 2005

B-

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.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 5, 2025

3.5/4

Pulse comes alive not during the two-hour runtime but in the hours, days, and weeks that follow a screening, when the viewer cannot shake its imagery or ideas.

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Pieter-Jan Van Haecke

Psychocinematography

Oct 26, 2022

Pulse is an extra-ordinary apocalyptic horror narrative that explores, in a refined way, the destructive impact of consumption...

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

May 1, 2021

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.

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George S

Jul 4, 2018

Pulse achieves an emotional atmosphere that crosses the screen. Its narrative is blurry and slow but it's totally justified by the director's goals. Full of detail, symbolism and mystery, definitely an iconic film.

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Luke W

Feb 16, 2018

Not a scary movie. Limited jump scares that actually work; atmosphere is not very creepy. the acting is pretty bad in those one as it feels they've just included every teen cliche they could find. Not very entertaining.

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Abraham W

Sep 4, 2017

It's a creepy, atmospheric slow-burn. The theme of loneliness explored here is interesting, as is post apocalyptic story of the dead seeping into our world.

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Hagrid W

Jul 10, 2017

Awesome Japanese horror! Very unnerving and sinister. The soundtrack really hits the brooding moments.

George S

Mar 27, 2017

A Japanese horror film that relies on suspense and prefers giving goosebumps instead of jump-scares.

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Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Director

Haruhiko Kato

Ryosuke Kawashima

Kumiko Asô

Michi Kudo

Koyuki

Harue Karasawa

Kurume Arisaka

Junko Sasano

Masatoshi Matsuo

Toshio Yabe

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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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