Pulse 2: Afterlife (Dimension/Genius DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Feature: C-

 

 

The first Pulse film was bad, though Weinstein made it one of their only HD-DVD releases before that format folded; we reviewed it.  It was yet another example of an American filmmaker butchering an otherwise decent Asian horror film.  But of course neither a lack of quality nor a lack of financial success has ever stopped a horror film from spawning sequels.  But oddly enough, Pulse 2 seems to be proof that these sequels can actually turn out better than their predecessors.  Now that’s not to say that Pulse 2 is necessarily a good movie, but at least it’s better.

 

The general concept of the first film is that ghosts have found a way back into the world of the living through wi-fi and cellphone signals.  They then suck the soul out of the living which gives the person a disease which either slowly kills them or causes them to commit suicide.  The sequel, with a new writer and director with his own take on the concept, picks up the story after this plague has wiped out most of humanity.  This is implied, though the film doesn’t ever establish any real view of what is going on in the world on a larger scale.

 

This film is likely to generate different responses from different viewers.  As a story it is lacking in a variety of ways.  The characters, with one possible exception, are underdeveloped and the actors lack the skill to make up for it.  Though to be fair, the leads are still better than most horror actors.  The most intriguing character, the one with the most potential to redeem the film is abandoned after less than twenty minutes of screen time.  And the conclusion of the film feels unsatisfying and unresolved, giving the impression that you’ve just watched an episode rather than a film.  Of course it turns out that at the time of this release, Pulse 3 is already finishing up postproduction.

 

However, there are those who may find value in this film despite its faults.  Throughout the first viewing, the visuals in some scenes are striking and seem odd in a way that you may not be able to put your finger on.  As revealed by watching the commentary track, nearly the entire film was shot in front of a green screen with composited backgrounds in the same way that Sin City, 300, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow were.  This results in mildly ethereal quality to the visuals that definitely work in the film’s favor.  Technically, this film is well executed and those who are interested in visual effects will want to watch this film for reference.

 

It is clear that the visuals were a priority for the filmmakers and it shows.  The footage of the actors, shot in front of a green screen, is very high quality.  The image quality on the backgrounds, however, varies.  Many of the backgrounds were taken from still images and at times it shows.  Although the film only screened theatrically at one festival, it is still presented in 16:9 matted widescreen.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio varies in quality between tracks.  While the dialogue and Foley tracks are clear and well recorded, the music track is a bit soft; but to be honest the score isn’t terribly impressive anyway.

 

The extra features on the disc are very sparse.  There are two short deleted scenes, a preview of Pulse 3, and a commentary track.  The commentary track however is one of the best I have yet listened to.  It features an unusually large group of commentators comprised almost entirely of the technical crew involved in production and postproduction and does not feature the director.  Listening to the commentary gives the impression though that these were the real filmmakers on this project anyway.

 

Pulse 2 is a film that makes a bad first impression.  But the more I look into it and the more I think about it, the more it begins to appeal to me.  It is a film that more or less fails to deliver for the casual viewer.  For horror fans it is worth seeing at least once, though I’m not sure you want to add it to your collection.  But for people who are interested in the more technical aspects of filmmaking, this film and especially the commentary track may prove interesting and informative.

 

 

-   Matthew Carrick