Another classic horror movie is getting a new life, and this one comes with a filmmaker who seems like a good fit for the material. Deadline reports that Dave Boyle, the director of the upcoming supernatural horror movie Never After Dark, is attached to direct a new reimagining of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2001 J-horror classic Pulse. Sony’s Screen Gems and Spyglass are developing the project, with Parker Finn and Jonathan Fass producing through Finn’s Bad Feeling banner. Boyle will also take a pass at a screenplay written by Luke Piotrowski, whose credits include The Night House and Hellraiser.
Boyle might not be the most obvious name to some horror fans, but his filmography makes him an intriguing choice for Pulse. The filmmaker has repeatedly told stories set in Japan or involving Japanese characters, including Big Dreams Little Tokyo, Tokyo Cowboy, and the Netflix series House of Ninjas. His upcoming Never After Dark is also a supernatural horror movie with a Japanese cast.
That movie could be an interesting preview of what Boyle might bring to Pulse. Never After Dark follows a wandering psychic medium who investigates a supernatural entity in an isolated house, and the film won the Midnighter Audience Award at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. It will be released theatrically in the United States by Magnolia Pictures on September 25.
What Is the New Pulse Movie About?
That’s the part we don’t know yet. The new movie is being described as a reimagining, rather than a straight remake, and the story details are currently being kept secret. All we know for certain is that it will take place in the modern era and feature a new set of characters.
The original Pulse was released in 2001 and was written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The techno-horror movie follows young people who begin encountering strange phenomena connected to missing friends and coworkers, technological breakdowns, and a mysterious website. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and went on to become one of the most acclaimed and influential J-horror movies of its era.
Yes, Pulse Has Already Been Remade
If you’re thinking, “Wait, wasn’t Pulse already remade?”, you’re absolutely right. There was already an American Pulse released in 2006. Directed by Jim Sonzero and co-written by Sonzero and Wes Craven, the English-language adaptation starred Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder, and Christina Milian.
The 2006 movie was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, Pulse 2: Afterlife and Pulse 3, both released in 2008.
So this new project is actually the second attempt to bring Pulse to English-language audiences.
Parker Finn Is Producing the Pulse Reimagining
The new Pulse is also another horror project coming from Parker Finn, the filmmaker behind the Smile movies. Finn and Jonathan Fass will produce through Bad Feeling, the production company behind the Smile franchise and the upcoming reimagining of Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession.
The timing is particularly interesting for Boyle. His Never After Dark is about to arrive in theaters, giving horror fans a chance to see what the filmmaker can do with supernatural material before he takes on Kurosawa’s Pulse. And if Never After Dark lives up to the praise it has already received, Boyle could be arriving at Pulse with some serious horror momentum.
There’s currently no release date or casting information for the new Pulse. Are you interested in seeing another take on Pulse, or should Hollywood leave Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s classic alone? Let us know in the comments.
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