Cell phones in Horror movies

[psychobyrd]

Technology started to advance in such way that the fear of “isolation” in horror movies became obsolete. Across the 2000’s horror films began incorporating technology more within the plots. During the late 2000’s films focused around the mobile phone as way of constant reminder that anyone could have access to your privacy and therefore your life. So like every time the phone rings we jump, or we get anxious whenever the phone doesn't work. Mobile phones became part of the story, almost as one of the characters.

If we consider Scream 4 (2011), Phone (2002), and One Missed Call (2003) the cell phones become anxiety-inducing devices, do they reflect our modern society's anxiety of "always being connected"? Do these movies reflect a criticism against constant communication and connection to virtual beings instead of reality? Also, considering each movie focuses on different societies (so like American, Korean, and Japanese) are these anxieties the same across communities? Or do they differ?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!

[TheBossInTheWall]

Couldn't just be they've be so common that they're good for using a horror theme around? Like cars.

[psychobyrd]

Is it that they are just common? If we notice new horror movies have stopped using cell phones because now the story would be obsolete.

And the ones that do, its always the killer calling, or your "fate" calling, do you think that's is just a reflection of how we are interacting nowadays with one another? Like there is a theme among these movies with mobile phones and its the fear of the killer always knowing your constant location, or knowing where to find you, theres also the idea that these characters lose their power and become subjects to the killer because they have power over them.

So do these reflect values that we have adopted as our own? Of losing your independence and become dependent of it? Of constant communication? Of lack of privacy?

[Despare]

It's not a new thing though, phones have been used as a device in horror movies for a long time. Whether it's a dead line, a call coming from inside the house, or a spooky voice at the other end it's an easy piece of tech to use as a prop in a story. There's always been fun to be had by playing with the fact that you can't see who you're talking to. The tricks change and evolve with technology but all to the same or similar effect.

[Ferox13]

Shit, I can't get a reception in this thread....

[MichaelMyers]

Originally Posted by psychobyrd

Technology started to advance in such way that the fear of “isolation” in horror movies became obsolete. Across the 2000’s horror films began incorporating technology more within the plots. During the late 2000’s films focused around the mobile phone as way of constant reminder that anyone could have access to your privacy and therefore your life. So like every time the phone rings we jump, or we get anxious whenever the phone doesn't work. Mobile phones became part of the story, almost as one of the characters.

If we consider Scream 4 (2011), Phone (2002), and One Missed Call (2003) the cell phones become anxiety-inducing devices, do they reflect our modern society's anxiety of "always being connected"? Do these movies reflect a criticism against constant communication and connection to virtual beings instead of reality? Also, considering each movie focuses on different societies (so like American, Korean, and Japanese) are these anxieties the same across communities? Or do they differ?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!

It is a plot device and that only, not to sound like neverending but horror is devoid of cultural criticism these days.

[psychobyrd]

Oh what effects would those be?