Danger haute tension

I remember I saw this movie about 5 years ago and recently found a videotape with it on. I watched it and thought, it's still a good movie. The electricity is a good touch turning appliances into killers. It's not really a cheesy movie you would expect by it's tagline but goes on the lines of "what would happen if this was true" of course there is no way scientifically possible for any of this to happen... or is there?!

Give me a moment while I give director Paul Golding a standing ovation! 'Pulse' is such a well made movie, it almost doesn't look like an 80's film. If you were to tell me this was a 2020 release, I'd have believed you. Even the decor and hair styles don't look dated. And how on earth did they manage to shoot the film the way they did back in the 80s?

'Pulse' doesn't rely on blood, guts and gore to send chills down your spine. So let me tell you straight out, if its guts and gore you're looking for, you might be disappointed. 'Pulse' has a really great script. Things that might seem trivial in the beginning, plays a huge part later. The film has a well designed plan and incredibly well executed. To further enhance the viewing pleasure, the acting and visuals are also very good. The photography truly is astounding given this was made in 1988.

There's no annoying loud jump scares here; just genuine scares. The film's protagonist is David, played by 12-year old Joey Lawrence, who is fantastic. There's an amazing scene of him trapped in the garage - truly nerve wrecking! The film's climax is also fantastic!! I absolutely loved this!

'Pulse' was a pleasant surprise and now rates as one of my favorite 80s horror films.

Would I watch it again? Absolutely!

I wonder why The Big Screen Savers Movie on TechTV hasn't picked this

film up yet! It's a cool tech thriller. I catch it on MoviePlex and HBO sometimes. It usually shows up when I'm

really, really, really bored. I'm glad it only comes on once in a while, because it would spoil the

thrill of the "evil" pulse electricity destroying a whole house. Then

the movie would become boring and repeated for me. I love the stop-motion animation of electricity destroying circuit

boards, but then again, I'm a tech fan. The light in the TV's cathrode

ray tube scanning over things like a deadly laser can prove to be quite

creepy. I actually think I can feel the metallic intense heat from the

electricity sometimes. Also, the score and the end credits are almost as fun as the movie

itself! (The background switches from circuit boards to city scapes on

the cr

I really didn't like Pulse, but I don't think that it's fair for me to say that it was a bad movie. I just don't like family horror films, those rated PG stories where there may be some action and suspense, but there are no body counts, blood, cursing, and what not that you'd find in your average horror movie.

Pulse is the story of a spirit living in the form of electricity and it killed the previous owner of a house that David is spending the summer in with his dad and stepmom. The spirit lives on and is ready for it's next victims. Only David can figure this out (of course), though he can't seem to convince either parents that he's not crazy and that there really is a dangerous spirit looming about.

Even if you're not a kid, but somewhat nostalgic about teens stars of the 80s, you will get a healthy dose of pre-teen Joey Lawrence and his unbelievably tiny brother Matt, who plays inquisitive little next door neighbor, Stevie.

Good, above average sci-fi / horror / thriller makes the most out of a fairly unique premise. Ever likable Cliff De Young plays divorced father Bill, whose son David (Joey Lawrence of future 'Blossom' fame) comes to stay with Bill and his new wife Ellen (Roxanne Hart) for a while. Unfortunately, this happens while a pulse of electricity - which seems to have become some sort of sentient being - is out to terrorize and destroy home owners in the neighborhood.

"Pulse" offers a fresh change of pace from the slasher films that often took predominance in the 1980s. It's written and directed by a man named Paul Golding, who does a pretty good job. Some viewers can take issue with the concept, or the fact that it's never sufficiently "explained", while others will appreciate the ambiguity of the plot. Assisted by a top notch crew, Golding is successful at combining a number of genuine jolts with some traditional suspense. There is some gore but not enough for more squeamish viewers to truly get upset about. Spooky music by Jay Ferguson and excellent special effects by Richard O. Helmer are heavy assets.

The cast is believable and engaging. De Young is good, but his character is going to frustrate viewers for being one of those standard Stubborn Dummy characters common to film; it takes him a long time to wise up. The lovely Hart, and young Lawrence, are similarly appealing. Solid support is provided by Lawrences' kid brother Matthew (as a neighborhood child) and top character actor Charles Tyner (as a creepy old man who seems to know the score). Other familiar faces in smaller roles are Robert Romanus of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" fame (as a TV repairman), and Myron Healey ("The Incredible Melting Man") as a helpful old neighbor. Look for Tim Russ ('Star Trek: Voyager') in a bit as a cop.

Overall, a solid shocker, that appears to offer a comment that we take our modern conveniences for granted, and that they can strike back and kick us in the ass.

Eight out of 10.