In the early 2000s a string of horror films were made in
Japan that has been referred to as “J-horror”. These films were huge hits there
and made their way to the US where fans were fascinated with them. So much so
that Hollywood took notice and began remaking them left and right. Probably
most famous of these are THE RING and THE GRUDGE. Another early entry was PULSE
starring Kristen Bell but it wasn’t as well received. Now Arrow Video has
released a great version of the original film on blu-ray for fans to enjoy.
The story involves two separate groups of friends
experiencing paranormal encounters that are leaving a mark on them, some
literally. The first group works together in a business that supplies plants to
buyers. When their tech guy fails to show for work or answer his phone, they
check up on him. While there, he walks into another room and hangs himself.
Gruesome enough but then they begin to look at a disc he left behind which
shows ghostly images from his apartment. A return visit has them exposed to his
ghost as well.
The second story involves a college student who finds
something odd going on as well. When he asks a professor to help, they too
discover ghostly images online. These images have an effect on some that view
them and they begin to disappear. As someone hypothesizes what happens to souls
when they leave here? Do they go to another dimension? And then the question is
raised what happens when, after the millions that have died over time, that
dimension begins to fill up? Do they try and make their way back?
Eventually the two stories intersect with the leads of both
uniting to try and discover the answer to these questions. It is their journey
and what they discover that makes the film more chilling than you would expect.
Some will be turned off to the way this story unfolds. The
back and forth between tales, the dismal look of the entire landscape and the
somber tone that it emits start to finish. This is not an in your face or jump
start scare style film. It is one that creeps into you, crawls under your skin
and makes you look over your shoulder even though you know nothing is there. It
takes the ghost story we’ve become acquainted with and melds it with the world
of computers, even if these computers look cumbersome since the movie was made
in 2001. The pace is slow as the horror unfolds before your eyes. This makes
for a movie that deserves attention.
Arrow Video, as always, presents this in the best form
possible with a hi def 1080p transfer. The extras include a new interview with
writer/director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a new interview with cinematographer
Junichiro Hayashi, THE HORROR OF ISOLATION a new video appreciation featuring
Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, an archive making of documentary, premiere
footage from the Cannes Film Festival, cast and crew introductions from the
opening day screenings in Tokyo, trailers and TV spots and a reversible sleeve
with newly commissioned artwork.
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