Technology as the Villain: 10 Horror Movies That Unleash the Dark Side of Tech
Technology is meant to make things easier for humanity, but these horror movies have a keen eye for its dark side. Ever since the sci-fi genre started to take shape, technology has often been portrayed as a potential threat to the future of humankind. Once the horror genre started to assess these themes as well, there has been a boom of unsettling stories that portray technology as the villain.
As products of their time, movies effectively capture the fears and concerns of each generation. In the case of horror, it takes the unforeseeable possibilities that technology brings to the table and materializes them in terrifying forms. Here are 10 horror movies where technology is the villain.
Lake Mungo (2008)
Lake Mungo tells a horror story in mockumentary style, following a grieving family who begins to experience a series of strange events in their home after Alice, their 16-year-old daughter, drowns in the local dam. Convinced that Alice is trying to make contact with them, they scatter multiple cameras around the house, coming across unsettling images in the darker corners of their home.
One Jump Scare in the Entire Film
Lake Mungo is known for its sole terrifying jump scare that ties the narrative together at the end, yet the technology subtext is what enables the film’s scariest moments to materialize. In the film, technology is used to manipulate emotions and rationalize these characters’ deepest fears; be it in the form of Alice’s ghost or, in the case of Alice, a disturbing death omen. Stream on Roku.
M3GAN (2023)
M3GAN leaves all subtlety and parable aside in favor of a plain-spoken approach. Few horror movies are as straightforward as this one, where A.I. becomes the incarnation of evil in the body of a sweet life-sized doll. Designed to emotionally bond with the lonesome child of her creator, M3GAN gradually begins to give in to rebellious impulses that put everyone around her in danger.
A Cautionary Tale About A.I.
Though the movie could’ve benefited from a meaner tone (despite earning an R-rated cut), the comedy and horror work together to poke fun at the latest trend in technology. The message is clear: any attempt to sell A.I. as an effective tool to fill the gaps in one’s personal life will never make up for a human’s rational reasoning — at least not until A.I. evolves even further.
We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021)
An engrossing horror movie debut by Jane Schoenbrun, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair directly addresses those who grew up in dark, unpredictable corners of the internet, where the possibility of being whoever you’d like is as exciting as it is suffocating. In the film, a lonely teenager begins to lose her grip on reality after engaging in a mysterious role-playing game online.
Trapped in the Dark Web
The titular “World’s Fair” challenge stands for all the creepypastas, viral tests, and obscure forums that enveloped so many teenagers in the first decades of this century. Here, technology is also this fascinating gateway to a realm where one’s lies are brought to life. It manages to distract users from their uneventful reality, but once they get in, they can’t get out.
Suicide Club (2001)
Suicide Club has become a quintessential Japanese horror movie in the minds of modern audiences, even though it’s easy to get lost in what the film is trying to say. In the aftermath of a tragedy, where 54 high school girls threw themselves in front of a moving train, a detective tries to solve the mystery behind the string of suicides plaguing the country.
Past History and Present Technology Collide
The film tackles Japan’s sensitive history with suicide and its high rates among younger folks. However, Suicide Club also makes a chilling connection between the country’s tragic path and media control diffused by technology, exposing a dark truth about the society of spectacle that seizes control of the masses.
Unfriended (2014)
Unfriended is a chilling desktop horror that uses live video chat as a terrorizing horror tool. It follows a group of six high school friends summoned by a mysterious user on Skype; someone who claims to be a classmate who committed suicide exactly one year ago.
A Modern Take on Found Footage
Unfriended was arguably the breaking point for movies that took the found footage trope and adapted it to the online sphere. While conventional found footage movies tell stories that have already happened, hence the “found” in the title, often tied to an unhappy ending, the narrative here unfolds with characters in real-time. Additionally, the film takes advantage of Skype’s structure to create a mosaic of images where multiple characters and their respective reactions can simultaneously be seen.
Analyst comment
Neutral news. The article discusses horror movies that portray technology as the villain. As an analyst, the market for horror movies is expected to continue to thrive, as there is a demand for such content that taps into societal fears and concerns about technology.
