With the release of M3GAN in January 2023, Blumhouse continues its strong tradition of buzzworthy, fun horror movies that are enjoyable to discuss. The trailer has already made people excited to check out the film, especially since the killer robotic doll dances in one fascinating scene.
When looking back on Blumhouse's horror movie catalog, there are many films that talk about technology, whether they tell a story solely via a computer screen or feature a child character answering a ringing phone and talking to ghosts of the villain he is trying to get away from.
Unfriended (2015)
Unfriended needs a third movie as the 2015 and 2018 films both tell stories via the computer screens that the main characters are using. When discussing the best Blumhouse horror movies that focus on technology, Unfriended's creativity can't be ignored.
Like other underrated teen horror movies, Unfriended is about friends who aren't easily lovable or kind-hearted at all. Blaire Lilly (Shelley Hennig) is having the time of her life as she has gotten her dream of being popular, but as the ghost of a girl who everyone bullied haunts an online chat, Blaire regrets her cruel behavior. The film keeps people guessing and delves into questions about what makes a true friend.
Like. Share. Follow (2017)
Sometimes horror movies about technology can be silly, like Countdown about a killer app. Other times, they talk about good questions that deserve to be thought about more. The story of a fan who stalks their favorite artist online is definitely a perfect horror movie premise, as this brings up questions about privacy, boundaries, and why fans feel that they have a right to learn everything about the stars who they love. The 2017 Blumhouse horror movie Like. Share. Follow. is underrated and not talked about too often, but it has a good hook: Shell (Ema Horvath)'s love of Garrett (Keiynan Lonsdale), who has a popular YouTube, becomes dangerous.
Shell is an underrated female Blumhouse villain and Like. Share. Follow. does a great job of examining the fine line between being a fan and being terrifying. While Garrett thinks that Shell's attention is awesome at first and the two start dating, he realizes the truth and it's a race to get out from under her clutches.
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)
A perfect follow-up to Unfriended, this underrated Blumhouse horror sequel is about Matias (Colin Woodell) using a laptop that he finds and then becoming targeted by an underground group who are super dangerous. It's smart of the sequel to also tell the story on a computer screen but include a different setting and plotline, as this keeps things fresh.
Instead of a friend group chatting online and being contacted by a ghost, Unfriended: Dark Web sees Matias messaging his girlfriend, trying to save his friends, and attempting to solve this strange mystery before time runs out. Matias is a strong character and it's impressive that the story can be told via a laptop screen and still share so much about Matias's life. The group who Matias uncovers are really chilling and it's hard to predict what will happen next, which makes this such an excellent sequel.
Cam (2018)
Cam takes a look at the lives of camgirls as it follows Alice Ackerman (Madeline Brewer) who is upset to see another woman pretending to be her online. One part mystery and one part examination of online sex work, Cam is a smart movie about technology that is totally unique. It deserves to be discussed much more often than it is.
An underrated 2010s horror movie, Cam is that perfect blend of a thriller with a quick pace and an exploration of an intelligent character. Critics were impressed by Brewer in this role and the film is considered a wise exploration of an important topic.
The Black Phone (2022)
The Black Phone's villain, played by Ethan Hawke, is just one strong element of this 2022 Blumhouse release. While The Grabber's kidnapping is undeniably shocking and horrifying, it's the fact that the ghosts of former victims call Finney (Mason Thames) on an old phone in the villain's basement that stands out the most.
The movie would be nowhere near as compelling without this element, as these spirits give Finney clues that help him put together the puzzle that he does, along with his brilliant and strong-willed sister Gwen (Madeline McGraw). The everyday cruelty of The Black Phone is that the child characters live sad and lonely lives. While Finney is of course scared to receive these phone calls, he knows that answering the phone each time it rings will bring him closer to the escape that he desperately wants.