The Best Japanese Horror Movie of All Time Is Officially Getting a Remake

One of the most terrifying Japanese horror movies ever made is returning from the great beyond. Japanese horror had a moment in the 2000s, and inspired a wave of remakes and knock-offs, but now it’s back in vogue. A new remake is in the works for one of the defining films of the genre.

In the early 2000s, American audiences were exposed to Japanese horror films, or “J-horror,” like never before. Movies like Ring, Ju-On: The Curse, and One Missed Call mixed traditional Japanese folklore with modern technology to great effect, and found a trans-Pacific audience of horror hounds eager for more. 2001’s Pulse, which was written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, was considered the best of them all. It centers around a string of mysterious disappearances which seem to be caused by ghosts crossing over into the world of the living via the internet.

Now, the terror of Pulse is returning in a new English-language remake. As reported by Deadline, Sony subsidiary Screen Gems and Spyglass Entertainment have brought in Dave Boyle to helm the film. Boyle will also take a pass on the script, which was written by Luke Piotrowski; he previously penned She Rides Shotgun and 2022’s Hellraiser remake. Smile‘s Parker Finn will produce the remake for Bad Feeling alongside Jonathan Fass; that duo is remaking another horror classic, Andrzej Żuławski‘s Possession. American filmmaker Boyle has long been interested in Japanese culture and cinema, and his previous works, including Big Dreams Little Tokyo, White on Rice, and the TV series House of Ninjas reflect that. His new film, the horror tale Never After Dark, will hit theaters this fall.

Has ‘Pulse’ Been Remade Before?

Jim Sonzero helmed a remake of Pulse in 2006, which had a script co-written by Wes Craven. It closely followed the plot of the original film, transplanting it to an American setting, and starred Kristen Bell and Ian Somerhalder. It was not a critical success, but turned a profit at the box office. It was subsequently followed by two direct-to-DVD sequels, both released in 2008: Pulse 2: Afterlife and Pulse 3.

A remake of Pulse is in development; no release date has yet been announced. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.