Techno-horror

Techno-horror is an intersecting sub-genre of science fiction and horror that focuses on concerns with and fears of technology. The stories are often cautionary tales created during periods of rapid technological advancement that express concerns about privacy, freedom, individuality, and wealth disparity. They often take place in dystopian settings.

Criteria

Techno-horror focuses on how technology can be a direct or indirect force of evil or destruction. Direct evil, such as death caused directly by the technology; or indirect, such as discussing the power of technology and the potential for people to use it as a means to extort and exploit others. It sometimes aligns with themes and philosophies of Neo-Luddism.[1] It relies on elements of science fiction or fantasy, which set it apart from the techno-thriller genre.[2]

History

The overthrow or destruction of the human race by mechanical automatons is likely the oldest form of techno-horror, with examples such as the Greek Myth Talos dating back to 400 BC.

Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein is widely considered the first sci-fi novel, and it may be interpreted as the basic premise of technological advancement resulting in the creation of dangerous artificial beings. However, this novel relies more on fears of occultism, medicine and forbidden knowledge than it does of electronic technology, thus is not techno-horror in the proper sense.

Artificial forms of intelligence became a topic of debate in the mid 19th century following theories of evolution. Samuel Butler's 1863 article Darwin among the Machines is a non-fiction essay which discussed the potential risks and possibility of the human race being superseded by thinking machines.

Another early form of techno-horror in film is nuclear terror.[3] Japan, Godzilla stood as a metaphor for the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[3][4][5] In The United States, the Cold War induced a fear of nuclear power and radiation, particularly the aftermath of bombing and the danger of weapons testing to civilians. For example, in the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, nuclear radiation is the cause of the zombie apocalypse.

Other stories, originating mostly in Japanese horror, involve classical terrors such as ghosts, spirits or curses propagating, traveling, or communicating via hi-tech media such as computer networks, cell phones, and cameras. Here, technology is not a threat on its own, but a conduit for dark forces.[6] The subgenre is notably popular in the West and Japan[7] and was likely influenced by myths and legends associated with EVPs.

Examples

Films

Sources:[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Video games

Novels and literature

See also

References

  1. ^ Blome, David (2018). Fear the Flying Dead:The Neo-Luddite Influence on Discussing the Future of Warfare.
  2. ^ 'Everything new will kill you' is the worst trope in horror - Polygon
  3. ^ a b Perrine, Toni (1996). Grand Valley Review Vol.16 Iss.1 , The Godzilla Factor: Nuclear Testing and Fear of Fallout.
  4. ^ Bould, Mark (2021). The Anthropocene Unconscious. p. 27.
  5. ^ Gazi, Jeeshan (2024). Whose roar is it, anyway? Localization and ideological communication with respect to the Toho Godzilla franchise.
  6. ^ Sonny Bunch, "Techno-Horror in Hollywood. Japanese Anxieties, American Style", The New Atlantis, Number 14, Fall 2006, pp. 137-140.
  7. ^ a b Tony Magistrale, Abject Terrors: Surveying the Modern and Postmodern Horror Film, 2005 p. 82
  8. ^ From Cryptic Calls to Cursed Computers, The Evolution of Techno-Horror in 10 Movies|Collider
  9. ^ The 9 Best Techno-Horror Movies You've Probably Never Heard Of - CNET
  10. ^ 10 Scariest Techno-Horror Movies|Screen Rant
  11. ^ Techno-Horror of the Future - Mystery and Suspense
  12. ^ Countdown: 10 Scariest Tech Horror Movies, Ranked | ScreenRant
  13. ^ Nightmare-Inducing Horror Movies for Technophobes - Film School Rejects
  14. ^ Top ten techno horror films | Dazed

Further reading

  • Clarke, Julie (2009). The Paradox of the Posthuman: Science Fiction/Techno-Horror Films and Visual Media. VDM Verlag. ISBN 978-3639143799.
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