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10 Techno-Horror movies to watch

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This blog explores the scariest stories from IT professionals and offers a list of 10 techno-horror movies, ranging from haunted livestreams to sinister video games, all connected to technology.

Laurence Cadieux

October 29, 2024

Hello! My name is Laurence Cadieux, and I’m a Communication Coordinnator here at Devolutions. My role includes overseeing the content strategy and development of our blog, managing the content and communication for our VIP advocate platform “Devolutions Force,” and working closely with our PR partners around the world. I also handle our off-site content opportunities (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.). Academically, I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing. When I’m not working, I sing in a band, and I enjoy watching my favorite movies again and again. I also love cooking, and during the pandemic, I became a bread expert — I can now bake the most amazing key lime pie on earth (if I do say so myself!). Plus, I recently discovered LEGO and there is no turning back — I’m hooked! I’m always happy to help, and you can reach me directly at lcadieux@devolutions.net.

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For our October poll question, we asked you to share your scariest story as an IT pro (by the way, the tales involving colonies of cockroaches living inside machines are REALLY freaking some of us out).

Speaking of scary: We also thought it would be chilling to recommend 10 techno-horror movies. These are frightening films that, in some way, have plots that are related to technology. Here is the list in alphabetical order:

Deadstream (2022)

What it’s about: Shawn, a disgraced internet personality, decides to try and win back his reputation and revive his fame by livestreaming alone inside a notoriously sinister and forbidding haunted house. However, he accidentally summons and releases a vengeful spirit and gets far, far more than he bargained for.

eXistenZ (1999)

Allegra, a renowned video game designer, has created a virtual reality game called eXistenZ. After surviving an assassination attempt by a crazed fan, Allegra fears that the only copy of her game has been damaged. To test its integrity, she implants the video game pod into the body of her companion, named Ted. Together, they face a series of experiences that take them deeper into a world that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Some people say that this is filmmaker David Cronenberg’s most haunting and chilling work.

Friend Request (2016)

What it’s about: A college student named Laura decides to unfriend a girl that she met online. But things take a sinister turn when the mysterious girl turns out to be a demonic presence obsessed with exacting revenge — forcing Laura to try and stop the carnage and break the curse.

Host (2020)

What it’s about: A group of six friends stuck in the pandemic lockdown decide to hire a medium to hold an online séance — and inadvertently bring to life an evil supernatural force that will stop at nothing to destroy them.

Pulse (2001)

What it’s about: After the tragic death of a college student, several young adults in Tokyo start witnessing terrifying things that are transferred across the internet. Soon, more and more people start disappearing as the internet itself morphs into a breeding ground for evil spirits. Many people believe that Pulse is a true masterpiece of the techno-horror genre, and over the years it has become a cult classic.

Ratter (2015)

What it’s about: Emma, a graduate student living alone in New York City, finds herself the target of a stalker who has infiltrated all of her electronic devices, and is watching her every move. What makes this movie unique and especially chilling is that it depicts scenes from the hacker’s point of view as he shifts from device to device.

The Den (2013)

Elizabeth is a young researcher who is studying the habits of webcam chat users. However, after witnessing a grisly murder online her life starts to spin out of control — because she is the attacker’s next intended victim.

The Invisible Man (2020)

A brilliant but abusive and unstable scientist develops the ability to become invisible. After faking his death, he begins to stalk and terrorize his ex-girlfriend. Her desperate pleas for help are ignored by the police, and she is forced to fight back against a terrifying enemy that she cannot see. What makes this movie so chilling and haunting, is that it is not too difficult to imagine a time in the future when the ability to become invisible exists — and wonder how some people might use this power to carry out their darkest intentions.

The Ring (2002)

A journalist investigates a mysterious videotape, that seemingly causes the death of anyone exactly one week after they watch it. This movie does not have “jump out of your seat” terror scenes, but it is considered by many to be an extremely well-crafted psychological horror that is layered with foreboding and dread (so maybe watch this one with a few friends…or at least with the lights on!).

Unfriended (2014)

What it’s about: Unfriended follows a group of six high school students who participate in an online chat session, and are known for being abusive and mean. They start to receive messages from someone claiming to be a student who died because of their bullying. At first, the group thinks it is a prank. But soon they learn that what’s happening is much, much darker and scarier than they ever imagined possible.