

Pulse
When successful high-flier Frankie Bell is brought crashing to earth by chronic kidney failure she targets an alternate future. Eight years on she is in her second year as a practicing doctor starting her first day in a Renal rotation. Driven to use her second chance to save others, Frankie must confront an ailing health system, and face her toughest challenge - learning to let go.
Insights
Plot Summary
A chilling tale exploring the creeping isolation and existential dread of modern society, 'Pulse' follows a group of interconnected individuals who grapple with the uncanny presence of spectral entities. As the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, they confront a pervasive sense of loneliness and the unraveling of reality itself. The film delves into themes of connection, alienation, and the digital age's impact on human relationships, leading to a profound and unsettling conclusion.
Critical Reception
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 'Pulse' (2017), a spiritual successor to his 1998 classic, received a generally positive reception from critics, with many praising its atmospheric dread and thematic resonance. While some found it less impactful than the original, it was widely acknowledged for its masterful handling of suspense and its continued exploration of isolation in a technologically advanced world. Audience reactions were similarly divided, appreciating its artful horror but sometimes finding its slow-burn approach and bleak outlook challenging.
What Reviewers Say
- Masterful atmospheric dread and unsettling suspense.
- Thought-provoking exploration of loneliness and technology.
- A worthy, albeit different, companion to the original 'Pulse'.
Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's unsettling atmosphere and its commentary on modern isolation. Many viewers found the slow-burn horror effective, though some expressed that it lacked the immediate scares of other horror films and could be quite bleak. The film's thematic depth was often highlighted as a strong point.
Fun Fact
While often referred to as a remake, Kiyoshi Kurosawa has stated that this 2017 film is more of a spiritual successor or reimagining of the themes and atmosphere of his original 1998 film 'Pulse' (Kairo).
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