Pulse (1988 film)

Lore & Background

The film's title refers to a highly aggressive and intelligent pulse of electricity that moves from house to house within the electrical grid system of Los Angeles. It terrorizes occupants by taking control of appliances, killing them or causing them to wreck the house. Once a house is destroyed, it travels along power lines to the next house. The story follows a boy visiting his divorced father; the pulse traps father and son, who must fight their way out. The pulse and its accompanying elements were designed by Cinema Research Corporation.

Reader's Guide

Pulse was produced by Aspen Film Society, a company founded by Steve Martin and William E. McEuen. Director Paul Golding got the idea from two unrelated events: cinematographer Caleb Deschanel told him the house felt alive and was taking care of him, and Golding heard about a computer that reprogrammed itself. Golding wrote the screenplay under working titles House, Tract, and Currents in 1981 but could not get it made until Columbia Pictures took it on seven years later. David Morse and Tommy Lee Jones auditioned for the lead role but lost to Cliff De Young. Production finished a day early and $1 million under its $6 million budget, allowing the filmmakers to afford Oxford Scientific Films for many special effects. The musical score was composed by Jay Ferguson, who also composed for The Terminator and A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. David V. Picker, head of Paramount Pictures, was impressed and intended a wide release, but management changes limited its theatrical release to Texas and Oklahoma; it went straight to video elsewhere and became a success on video.

Did You Know?

• David Morse and Tommy Lee Jones both auditioned for the role of Bill but lost to Cliff De Young.
• The film was only released theatrically in Texas and Oklahoma, but became a success on video.