Arthouse films

Here's a look at some of the art house films opening today:

"Pulse" ("Kairo") Rating 3 1/2 out of 4

The screechy, creepy sound of a computer modem hooking up to theInternet over a phone line is the first sound of "Pulse." It's heardbefore we see the first scene, as if Japanese director KiyoshiKurosawa ("Bright Future") wants us online before he posts his storyof a secular apocalypse.

Taguchi (Kenji Mizuhashi) is a week late finishing a computerproject, so co-worker Michi (Kumiko Aso) checks on him at home.Taguchi quietly hangs himself as she looks for the disk. Later hisvoice calls for help through a static-filled cell phone call. All onits own, a …