Mike Flanagan Says This Terrifying Classic Has “One of the most frightening single shots” Ever
Horror films resonate with fans because they play on our desire to willingly submit to fear. They allow us the chance to escape into a nightmare where we can experience unspeakable peril from the safety and comfort of an armchair. Any horror film can deliver a few good jump scares. But many of the most effective horror pictures feature technically brilliant scares that startle and unnerve in equal measure, allowing these chilling efforts to live in infamy for years to come, sticking with viewers long after the credits roll.
On that note, I was recently scouring filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s Letterboxd profile, and noticed that he previously weighed in on a film featuring a technically brilliant scare that resonates for all the right reasons. In his coverage, the Oculus director praises an imposing sequence that terrifies in all the right ways.
The film of which I speak is the 2001 Japanese horror film Pulse. In his critique, Flanagan lauds the film as a “masterpiece” and praises the flick as an effective meditation on seclusion. Not to mention, he also dives into a disquieting scene you’ll never be able to unsee.
His write-up reads, in part: “A parable about technology and the consequences of personal disconnection, this also boasts one of the most frightening single shots I’ve ever seen a [sic] horror film; a ghostly woman’s slow, silent approach across a shadowy room is so much more terrifying than the most memorable jump scare.”
What’s the setup for this jarring techno-horror film?
After college student Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi) commits suicide, a number of young adults living in Tokyo witness terrifying visions transferred across the Internet. As more people disappear throughout the city, the Internet becomes a breeding ground for malevolent spirits. Three seemingly disconnected stories follow Michi (Kumiko Asô), Ryosuke (Haruhiko Katô), and Harue (Koyuki) as they attempt to solve the mystery behind the ghostly visions that are seeping beyond their computer monitors.
Via the scene of which Flanagan speaks with such reverence, Pulse director Kiyoshi Kurosawa takes care to build anticipation, gradually unnerving the viewer as the ghostly specter comes closer and closer. He uses creeping camerawork, low lighting, a cacophonous score, and unnatural movements to maximize the effect of this unforgettable sequence. His commendable efforts have ensured that the scene now lives in infamy for those who have experienced it, proving that a conventional scare can be every bit as terrifying as a jump scare, if not more so.
If you have yet to endure this eerie effort, you should do yourself a favor and take it in. As luck would have it, you can presently do just that on Tubi. Just make sure to select the 2001 original rather than the admittedly less impressive 2006 remake starring Kristen Bell.
Categorized: Streaming News
