Pulse

Sound:
One thing that has been noticed in the second wave of titles by Genius Products is the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtracks. A Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix is also provided, but the TrueHD mix is the way to go. "Pulse" has a dreary and eerie world. The film´s sound design capitalizes on this point and paints a stale atmosphere with unpleasing sounds, static, buzzing and ringing that is not pleasant at all for the ears, but helps deliver the depressing world intended by the filmmakers. The music by Elia Cmiral helps convey the mood of a world on the brink of the apocalypse and though his work is chopped up in bits and pieces throughout the film, it too keeps the viewer from getting comfortable. Come to think of it, watching "Pulse" is uncomfortable and disconcerting both visually and aurally. Bass was surprisingly absent throughout the film. Horror movies almost always have low rumbling bass to set up the frights, but "Pulse" gives the sub a break. Dialogue is very clear, even when the computers are making the most annoying sounds possible.

Extras:
The good folks at Genius Products have delivered this little film with a nice spate of supplements. First and foremost, there are 2 Feature Commentaries. I know, you should spell out your numbers, but that is how it is listed on the box. The first commentary features director Jim Sonzero and Special Makup Effects Designer Gary Tunnicliffe. This is a deep commentary that goes heavily into the details of making the film. There are some anecdotes and moments of silence, but for the most part, the commentary is composed of straight forward details. The second commentary has the films producers Mike Leahy and Joel Soisson, actor Samm Levin, Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin O´Niell, Editor Kirk Morri and Line Producer Ron Vecchiarelli. This is a lot of people. It really is. I listened for a few minutes and had to move on.

Aside from the commentaries, there are other notable features. Additional Scenes is a collection of six deleted scenes that are alternate takes of scenes already included in the film. An alternate surprise ending is thrown in. The surprise is that Dexter dies. Creating the Fear: Making Pulse is less than ten minutes of EPK material on the making of the film and The Visual Effects of Pulse if a five minute accompanying piece. Pulse and the Paranormal sounded like it would be good times, as they try to say that ITC is real. However, it runs for just over five minutes and even though they try to pass off what they say as proof of the supernatural, it is goofy and runs far too short. I was really hoping for more with that one. Finally, the theatrical trailer is also involved in the bonus section.

Closing Comments:
I wanted to like "Pulse." I really did. However, for as original as the film tried to claim it was, "Pulse" is another Americanized rehash of a Japanese horror film that does not match the quality of the original. The characters are as cookie cutter as you get in today´s horror movies. A black couple. A white couple. Guess what? They are in college. Though the story is quite unique, the film´s setting and formula are hardly anything new. The acting is not bad, but will never win any awards. Kristen Bell is cute. Very cute. The picture and audio of the HD-DVD release are both good. The film has a very murky and dreary look and the sound is uncomfortable. This was the intent of the filmmakers and is not a fault of the transfer. The features are short, but there are two lengthy commentaries and a decent collection of alternate scenes. For a fairly low budget film, you don´t typically ask for a lot. "Pulse" entertained me at a few points and I loved some of the apocalyptical moments. The Apocalypse is where the film could have succeeded, but that was just icing on the cake. Too bad the batter wasn´t cooked long enough.

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