Pulse Has A Faulty Modem

     Horror movies should not be rated (PG-13). In not aiming for an (R) rating, filmmakers not only hold back the scares and make the horror flick less interesting but they are also responsible for inviting kids and teens to act incredibly immature. Case in point: While watching Pulse I had to listen to faux-screaming from a group of teen moviegoers. I suppose that is wasn’t their fault, though, that Pulse was funnier than it was scary.

     That is probably why the release date for Pulse was pushed back a few months. Originally slated for release in the middle of the summer, the studio decided to hold off on the flick until the dog days between summer and fall – a typical timeframe for bombs. There are no legitimate moments of fright in Pulse, only ridiculously cheesy moments worthy of hearty laughter.

     Pulse stars Kristen Bell as Mattie, a college student trying to contact her missing boyfriend Josh. When she finally locates him he kills himself. It is soon discovered that there is a epidemic of such suicidal behavior around the world. Mattie’s friends begin disappearing one by one so she tracks down the guy that bought Josh’s computer for clues.

     This guy is Dexter, played by Ian Somerhalder, and he shows Mattie a freaky video that automatically plays on Josh’s old computer. They come to the conclusion that ghosts are being transmitted through the various communication signals looking for lives to steal. They must decide between fleeing to a dead zone to escape the terror or try to eliminate the deadly computer virus unleashed by Josh.

     Pulse is a step up from other recent attempts at ghost stories like The Ring and The Grudge but other horror movies like Saw and Hostel flatten everything that Pulse tries. The acting in the movie is despicable and the peculiar ending will leave even the most hardcore horror fans shrugging their shoulders. Pulse has the right style – dialing in the perfect cinematography and scary set-ups – but there is no payoff to this technical bore.