Pulse (I) (2006)

When their computer hacker friend accidentally channels a mysterious wireless signal, a group of co-eds rally to stop a terrifying evil from taking over the world.

Director:

Jim Sonzero

Writers:

Wes Craven (screenplay), Ray Wright (screenplay),

Stars:

Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder, Christina Milian

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristen Bell	...	Mattie
Ian Somerhalder	...	Dexter
Christina Milian	...	Isabelle Fuentes
Rick Gonzalez	...	Stone
Jonathan Tucker	...	Josh
Samm Levine	...	Tim
Octavia Spencer	...	Landlady (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Ron Rifkin	...	Dr. Waterson
Joseph Gatt	...	Dark Figure
Kel O'Neill	...	Douglas Zieglar
Zach Grenier	...	Professor Cardiff
Riki Lindhome	...	Janelle
John Burke	...	Newscaster
Mike J. Regan	...	Phantom (as Mike Regan)
Steve Tom	...	Male Newscaster #2

Storyline

The hacker Josh invades the computer of Douglas Ziegler, who is developing a powerful wireless signal, and accidentally releases a mysterious force that takes the will to live of human beings, generating a suicide epidemic and increasing the force. His girlfriend and student of psychology, Mattie, sees each one of their common friends die and the destruction of the modern world, and together with her new acquaintance Dexter, they try to plan a virus developed by Josh in the network to shutdown the system and save mankind.

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Plot Keywords:

computer | technology | cell phone | epidemic | psychology | 

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Taglines:

You are now infected.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi terror, disturbing images, language, sensuality and thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Epafi me tous nekrous

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$75,394 (Argentina) (13 October 2006)

Gross:

$75,394 (Argentina) (13 October 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, Distant Horizons, Neo Art & Logic

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Wes Craven was once set to direct, but bailed out, which led the film to be officially canned at one point

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Goofs

Although the movie is set in Ohio, Mattie is shown coming from an underground subway system. Comlumbus Ohio does not have a subway line.

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Quotes

Mattie Webber: [crying] I don't why I didn't see the signs. I should have been there... done something.
Dr. Waterson: Sometimes there aren't any signs. This was a very intensely lonely young man... more than you could ever know, he was very skilled at hiding his loneliness. And when he couldn't hide it anymore, He... hid... himself. Have you ever felt that kind of loneliness?

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Connections

Followed by Pulse 2: Afterlife (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Delay the Wait"
Written by Jules Larson and Joz Ramirez
Performed by Overnight Lows
Courtesy of Jonathan Palmer Music

User Reviews

Altogether awful.

I am sure you are all familiar with how a good book can be ruined by its movie rendition. Well, this is a perfect example of how a good movie can be ruined by its American remake. Sure there are advantages to Hollywood-ification; take a look at the difference in special effects for 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge'. But, in turn, what is then sacrificed is quality in story and plot development, case and point being the American 'Ring 2' involving an attack from possessed deer. Yes... deer.

The movie that inspired this one, 'Kairo' (aka 'Pulse'), had a very complex plot line with real suspense, real attachment of audience feeling, and real take-home messages. The storyline for the new 'Pulse' is something a child could have come up with and is highly reminiscent of a movie released a few years back - 'Dot com'. The whole direction and point of the American version is so far distant from that of the original Japanese that I have no idea why they didn't just separate themselves from it in the first place. Basically, whoever wrote the script had just seen 'Kairo' and thought to himself, "Hey, some of those scenes were awesome! And the way they did this and that? Wow." Twenty minutes later, the script for an 'original' Pulse was created where certain events were directly copied but liberated from all that 'plot' baggage.

Honestly, I cannot find an ounce of merit for this film. Not suspenseful, not scary in the least, and even the effects failed to impress. The action felt rushed, the logic behind everything abandoned for the sake of a 'just go with it', and the message dumbed down so far that even the densest of movie-goers can get smacked across the face with it.

I am not preaching that you should watch the original; just, please, for the sake of America's general intelligence level, do not consider this movie good or clever or inventive. Or good. Thanks.