Surely, it can seem like a mood killer. When death is mostly associated with things of the past, with a vast amount of spirits and demons that (presumably) have existed for decades, centuries, millennia, or more. Where old, abandoned places hold dark secrets and look the creepiest. It can be a bit hard to reconcile horror with modern technology, as though they don’t mix. At least not in an unironic, non-laughable way. But you know, monsters can learn to use computers and smartphones too. It’s not like they’re stupid.
In all seriousness, though, you might be concerned that the eeriness of spirits and the magnificence of demons would be lost if they were to use modern technology to cause horror. Or even the character of deranged humans if you see them being particularly tech-savvy. Similarly with other types of monsters. And that may indeed happen to some extent, depending on your relationship with the idea and the execution of it, but here’s the thing: they oughta keep up anyway. If Samara could possess a videotape and make calls on The Ring, giving horrible nightmares with it, why would they stop there?
Of course, there’s still room for horror stories that have little to nothing to do with modern technology. But if those are the only ones we have, we’d be denying or avoiding the reality that the world is increasingly becoming one with modern technology and that we’re rarely divorced from it. So, it is interesting and entertaining to see how horror could make it into our everyday gadgets and activities that we have grown accustomed to. And in a way, that can be especially horrifying.
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| Cam (2018) |
If horror takes over modern technology, where do you run to? How do you avoid it? Living off-the-grid without electricity is not an option for most. Some of us have our lives dependent on it, so that would be bad news. And we don’t want to be disconnected...
Now, with the rise of the internet, apps, and social media, many horror stories explore the possibilities of something messed up happening through them and/or because of them, realistically or not. Some of them move quite quickly, too, and are released in time to be relevant to what’s currently trending or in style.
Host, for example, came out in 2020 and takes place in 2020, basing its plot on the pandemic’s lockdown and the video chat app that blew up in popularity because of it. And while the concept of it made me curious, I was reluctant to watch it. Why? Because it sounded like it would be silly (and I appreciate cinematography’s artistry too much to be eager to watch a film from the point of view of webcams). But then I was proved wrong and it was worth it. (I should probably know by now that Shudder films have a high chance to please my horror cravings.)
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| Countdown (2019) |
Horror in modern technology can be very hit or miss. But then again, you can also say that about most themes. However, while making stories that revolve around modern technology, you might want to be particularly attentive to detail and to how things work. Because some of us nerds would have a lot of trouble enjoying them otherwise. Furthermore, if you’re making your story about modern technology, it is an opportunity to astonish the audience with the amazing intricacies and potential that the latest inventions have. Not doing so would leave much to be desired. But that’s just my opinion.
Facts are often sacrificed in favor of free flights of imagination, and that’s fine, ideal even in certain cases, but some of us would rather horror stories are at least coherent, if not believable, or carry some sort of truth within them that we can then take with us. And when you’re dealing with modern technology, you’re on territory that’s familiar to many and therefore easy to disprove.
Real life has deeply disturbing tales that have to do with modern technology, anyway. Like what people have shared about the app Randonautica, for example. So you don't need to get too crazy to intertwine horror with modern technology or find it already there.
Which electronic devices, programs, or platforms worry you most?