While the original, as in the American remake, of the film “Pulse”
was just an ok horror movie that had plenty of flaws and clichés, it comes
across as a shiny gem compared to its immediate sequel “Pulse 2: Afterlife”; this
sequel sucks which is a real shame because the story had some promise. The acting
is horrible and atrocious which ruins whatever hope the story had to redeem
itself. The film stars Jamie Bamber who was great in the new "Battlestar Galatica" but utterly fails here. But what is worse than the acting are the visuals in this film! The
ghosts are a sad rendition of the ones that were in original and are not scary
or intimidating in least. Even more annoying than these ghosts are the majority
of the backgrounds in almost every scene; it looks like the actors are all
standing in front of green screens and their surroundings have all been
created. This is very distracting to watch because nothing feels real. This
technique makes sense to use when the film is focusing on the ghost’s point of
view but not when it’s focused on the living characters. It’s a very bad choice
and a horrible use of a budget (note – this movie had the same budget as the
first film!).
The movie takes place a few weeks (I’m guessing”) after the
first movie when the world in general is aware of and suffering the attacks of
the electronic dead. Some of the movie is from the perspective of Michele, a
recently infected woman who died and has come back as one of the electric
ghosts. The movie focuses on her searching for her daughter Justine and not
realizing that she and the other people she encounters are all dead and that
the ghosts that they see are the living. The movie then shifts to Stephen and
their daughter Justine, who is alive and well. Stephen and Justine leave the
city and go to Stephen’s rural cabin where there are currently no electronic
ghosts. Stephen’s lover Marta shows up, and while they’re talking, Stephen’s
laptop starts receiving emails from Michele (he still has a laptop because he
doesn’t believe that the ghosts travel via electronic signals). Michele
materializes and kills Marta while Stephen and Justine escape. The remainder of
the movie is about Michele chasing them, Stephen getting kidnapped by a
computer hacker who thinks he can save the world, and finally a horrible ending
that makes me wonder why I wasted time watching this film. Although…it’s still
not nearly as bad as “Beyond the Wall of Sleep”!
Favorite moment – Even in a horrible movie there can still
be parts that shine. In this film, that moment is a short scene that shows
Michele’s Uncle Peter, who is alive and has locked himself in his room away
from his electronic ghost wife. He heard about the fact that the color red
keeps the ghosts from getting to you so he has used anything red on the walls,
windows, doors and himself. One thing that he used was the blood of his pet
cat, which he has broken in several areas and is rubbing the open wounds on
himself. He even starts to eat innards of his pet since he is trapped within
the room. Not a great scene but it’s original and perfect for a horror movie!
Michele in a room with a real background
A ghost,"Oh no, she's black and white!"
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