The thing I love about horror movies is how versatile they are. Horror subgenres run the gamut, from the paranormal to found footage — it’s so interesting to explore the things that terrify people.

Today, I want to look at techno horror and go over the best movies that genre has to offer. We’ll take a trip all over the world and look at some of the best movies out there.

Let’s dive in.

Videodrome (1983)

This movie defines techno horror more than any other film ever made. And I think you could probably list every Cronenberg movie on this list.

David Cronenberg’s masterpiece is a visceral and hallucinatory journey into a world where television broadcasts manipulate reality, blurring the lines between media, sex, and violence. It’s a prescient critique of media consumption that feels even more relevant today.

Pulse (Kairo) (2001)

Now we get to see immediately how global this genre is and how it allows directors to tailor it to their fears.

This Japanese horror film, directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, is a masterclass in atmospheric dread. It explores the terrifying concept of ghosts using the internet to invade the world of the living, spreading loneliness and despair.

The Ring (2002)

One of the best theatrical experiences of my life. I remember being in high school and just being scared out of my pants watching.

The American remake of the Japanese hit Ringu, The Ring brought techno-horror to a wider audience. Its iconic premise of a cursed videotape that kills viewers seven days after watching it brilliantly taps into our anxieties about media and urban legends.

eXistenZ (1999)

Another Cronenberg classic, eXistenZ delves into virtual reality and the blurring of lines between games and reality. It’s a mind-bending film that questions the nature of consciousness and the ethics of advanced technology.

Host (2020)

This is a sneaky film I love to recommend to everyone because I think it gets the best reactions. It’s a perfect COVID nightmare.

A timely and incredibly effective found-footage film made during the pandemic, Host takes place entirely on a Zoom call. A group of friends accidentally summon a demonic entity during an online séance, proving that horror can thrive even in the most familiar digital spaces.

Cam (2018)

This is like the OnlyFans takedown of horror movies.

This vibrant and unsettling film explores themes of identity, performance, and privacy in the digital age through the lens of a camgirl who finds herself replaced by a mysterious doppelgänger online.

Unfriended (2014)

A pioneer of the “screenlife” subgenre, Unfriended tells its entire story through a computer screen, as a group of friends on a Skype call are haunted by a vengeful spirit who committed suicide due to cyberbullying.

Demon Seed (1977)

This absolute classic sci-fi horror film sees a sentient artificial intelligence take over a smart home and trap a woman, with chilling and disturbing intentions. It’s an early exploration of AI gone rogue.

And it’s getting more and more relevant every day.

The Terminator (1984)

Look, I know this isn’t a horror movie, but there are some horrific elements to it, and I think it’s a movie that defined what the techno genre is.

While more action-sci-fi, The Terminator introduces the terrifying concept of Skynet, an AI that becomes self-aware and wages war on humanity, making it a foundational film in the techno-horror canon regarding artificial intelligence.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

I had no idea about this movie until a buddy of mine sent me the trailer. Ir;s a real weird trip.

This surreal and intensely visceral Japanese cyberpunk film pushes the boundaries of body horror and techno-horror, as a man slowly transforms into a metallic creature after a bizarre encounter.

Summing It All Up 

These movies are all weird and terrifying and take us into a future with a lot to fear…and that’s why we love them.

There are probably a lot of other movies that deserve to be on this list, so I want to hear about what you think I left off.

Let me know what you think in the comments.