These 5 Horror Films Prove Technology is Out to Get Us
I don’t think I am being too controversial when I say: Technology is synonymous with evil. If left unchecked, our obsession with tech will be the undoing of our society and usher in an era of humans enslaved by machines. If you don’t believe me, there is a distinct possibility you aren’t watching enough horror movies. But fear not, dear reader, I will help you see the truth.
Countless filmmakers have gone out of their way to warn us about the evil nature of technology and what it can (and will) do the moment we place our attention elsewhere. It just so happens that I have cultivated a list of five films that prove, beyond a doubt, that tech can and will destroy us if we let it. So, read on for five films that clearly demonstrate the sinister side of AI.
But wait: One last thing before I leave you with five cautionary tales upon which to ruminate. For this exercise, I am focusing on titles that are squarely categorized as horror. So, please do not expect to see Terminator or 2001: A Space Odyssey mentioned here. But please do take care to note the potent message contained within cautionary tales like the aforementioned features.
Chopping Mall
This film spins a tale of security robots gone haywire at a shopping center while while serving up some seriously effective kill sequences and a colorful cast of characters (several of whom are even quite likable). And did I mention that it runs well under 90 minutes? So, Chopping Mall is easily digestible and a blast to watch. But don’t forget the message at the core of this cult classic. Chopping Mall is an admonition as to why one should never become overly reliant on technology and why we must never entrust public safety to a machine. AI is easily corrupted and likely to attempt to overthrow mankind and and subsequently enslave us, after all.
Evilspeak
Evilspeak is a classic revenge tale with a twist. Stanley (Clint Howard), a teenage boy at a military academy happens upon a black magic book and with the aid of that tome and a computer, Stanley begins performing dark rituals. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot, as it turns out. But everything we see within Evilspeak is meant to serve as a warning as to what happens if we don’t keep a close eye on our tech.
Fair warning to animal lovers: If you have never seen Evilspeak and opt to check it out, prepare yourself for a scene involving violence against a defenseless animal that you won’t be able to unsee.
Demon Seed
Adapted from the Dean Koontz novel of the same name, this vintage tech-based horror film is filled with computers the size of a compact car that aren’t even half as powerful as the iPhone that fits in your pocket. But make no mistake, even overly cumbersome technology can be evil under the right (or should I say wrong?) circumstances. And that point is well demonstrated here, as we’re introduced to a scientist that creates a software program which becomes fixated on impregnating his wife. Yikes!
Demon Seed demonstrates exactly why we mustn’t let technology get too smart for its own good. If we do, every last one of us will be impregnated with a demonic tech baby and left at the mercy of the machines.
In all seriousness, though, this flick, like a lot of Koontz adaptations, is often overlooked but quite entertaining. Moreover, it’s noteworthy for predicting smart home technology decades before it became commonplace and available at a consumer-friendly price point.
976-Evil
In this tale about the dangers of technology, we are introduced to a young man named Hoax (Stephen Geoffreys) who discovers a novelty phone line that allows him a direct connection to The Dark Lord. Harnessing the power of Satan, Hoax exacts revenge on those that have wronged him and learns why technology is not something with which one should trifle. And that is a valuable lesson, indeed.
While 976-Evil is far from a beloved classic, it does have the distinction of being directed by genre icon Robert Englund. And that’s enough to warrant a watch if you haven’t seen it.
Videodrome
I consider Videodrome to be the final word on evil tech cinema. David Cronenberg deftly melds body horror with sinister technology in the form of a television network sending out harmful signals over the airwaves.
James Woods (Cat’s Eye) and Debbie Harry (of Blondie) feature respectively as a television station president and a radio personality. Together, the duo explores the intersection of pleasure and pain and also learns why technology has the potential to do more harm than good; it’s not meant to be used by the weak-willed.
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