Hollywood is taking another swing at Japanese horror classic Pulse, with a new English-language reimagining now in the works. The news comes two decades after the movie received its first American remake, and judging by the early reaction online, some horror fans haven’t exactly forgotten how that one turned out.
According to Deadline, a new English-language reimagining of Pulse is officially in the works at Screen Gems and Spyglass, with House of Ninjas creator Dave Boyle attached to direct. The project will mark Hollywood’s second attempt at adapting Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s acclaimed 2001 Japanese horror movie, following the poorly received 2006 remake starring Kristen Bell.
Originally released in Japan in 2001, Pulse follows a group of people who begin encountering disturbing supernatural phenomena connected to the internet, blending ghostly horror with themes of loneliness and isolation. Kurosawa’s movie has since become a cult favorite among horror fans, while the 2006 Hollywood version failed to earn the same affection — making the prospect of another American take an understandably contentious one.
Social Media Reactions
Social media users were quick to question whether Pulse really needs another Hollywood adaptation, especially given the reception to the previous attempt. One Reddit user sarcastically remarked, “Yes, because the 2006 remake went so well last time,” prompting another to joke, “Now they know NOT to do lol.”
Others questioned whether the themes that made the original so unsettling could even be recreated today. One commenter argued, “The whole point of Pulse is entrenched in the beginning of the internet and internet community’s etc. The theme of the film is lost to time. The movie was scary because the internet was new and unknown what it was capable of.”
Meanwhile, another fan appeared less than impressed by Hollywood returning to the same property once again, joking, “Remake a remake. Creative industry huh?. 😆”
Whether another Hollywood version can capture what made Kurosawa’s original so unsettling remains to be seen. Still, with the 2006 remake hardly remembered fondly, this new Pulse already has plenty to prove if it hopes to convince skeptical horror fans that a second attempt is worth plugging into.
