Thursday Movie Picks: Halloween Edition: Technology


Technology isn't that scary or threatening in real life unless you are a Neanderthal or someone who wasted years studying something *coughs*accounting*coughs* any idiot with a computer can do nowadays. In movies, it's a whole different story as technology often takes over humans. That's exactly this week's theme for Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks.

Christine (1983)

Based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, it follows Arnie (Keith Gordon), a typical high school geek whose life is completely turned around when he meets Christine, a bright red 1958 Plymouth Fury. I didn't find it that scary nor suspenseful, but a car like Christine is pretty damn scary. 

The Ring (2002)

A journalist (Naomi Watts) investigates a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it. Courtesy of IMDb because I haven't seen this film yet. But I will, sooner or later, as I've heard many good things about it.

Upgrade (2018)

It follows a guy named Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) who, after losing his wife (Melanie Vallejo) and his limbs, agrees to have a neck implant called STEM to walk again. Grey soon learns that STEM can talk to him and that it's pretty smart, and uses it to find the men who killed his wife. It's not the best film of the year, but it's freaking scary what technology can do. 

11 comments :

  1. I've only seen Christine which I didn't find particularly scary either, the book left me flat as well. I really must break down and see The Ring one of these days. Upgrade is one I'd never heard of until today but this is the second place I've seen it.

    Ya they always make technology scarier in film but it does have potential to disquiet. My three all trade on that touch of the unknown about what it can really do.

    Frankenstein (1931)-Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) of whom it might be generously said has a screw or two loose attempts with the latest technology to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the dead in his laboratory deep within the walls of his remote castle. Assisted by the loyal, deformed Fritz (Dwight Frye), he succeeds in bringing his monster (Boris Karloff) to life in florid fashion. However, trouble is brewing when the confused and traumatized monster escapes into the countryside and begins to wreak havoc. Iconic and seminal film impressively director by James Whale, with a touching performance by Karloff, set the standard for all horror movies to follow.

    Demon Seed (1977)-Susan Harris (Julie Christie) and her husband Dr. Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) a renowned scientist live in a home he has modified to be run by voice-activated computers. Dr. Harris has also developed Proteus IV, an extremely advanced and autonomous artificial intelligence program. When Harris becomes disturbed by Proteus’s demands to be let "out of this box". Harris switches off the communications link but Proteus restarts itself, constructs a robot takes control of the house and traps Susan inside. Object: impregnate Susan to assume human form. Strange, unsettling sci-fi based on a Dean Koontz novel is strengthened by having a talent like Julie Christie in the lead.

    Tron (1982)-Young computer engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) discovers that his work is being stolen by one of his company’s executives-Ed Dillinger (David Warner). He attempts to hack the system but something goes awry and Flynn is transported into the digital world, facing off against Dillinger's computerized likeness, Sark, and the imposing Master Control Program. Aided by Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Yori (Cindy Morgan), Flynn fights a technological battle for control. Though the graphics are wildly dated now they were cutting edge when this was released.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoyed King's Christine a bit more than the movie. It wasn't terrifying but it was definitely more scary.

      I haven't seen any of your picks but I want to see Tron.

      Delete
  2. I haven't seen Christine but I want to..now. When it first came out, I was too freaked out to see it. I haven't seen your 3rd choice but it sounds interesting. I actually saw the Ring and it still shakes me up after all these years. The kid coming out of the TV scared the bejeezies out of me..popcorn went flying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll keep that in mind! I hope I won't fall from the chair lol

      Delete
  3. oh watch The Ring, it's awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, Christine. That is an awesome film and one of John Carpenter's more accessible films.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Christine is an oddball of a film. The whole love affair with his sentient car thing comes across as more campy than scary. Fun movie, though. Good call on The Ring and certainly on Upgrade. I just watched that and had a blast.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I picked The Ring too and I have seen Christine but I can't remember much since it was so long ago.

    ReplyDelete