As exciting as it can be to see the new advantages that are made thanks to advanced science, there’s a dark side to putting too much faith in technology. When it comes to the point where humans no longer have autonomy over the procession of basic tasks, it can be much harder to trust a system that isn’t privy to legitimate emotion. Unsurprisingly, many of thegreatest science fiction films of all timehave analyzed how technology can be a destructive force in human society.
Technology is often intertwinedwith the neo-noir genreto deliver insightful and intelligent commentary on the manner in which synthetic forces can impede humanity.These are the best tech noir movies, and given the real developments that have been made with artificial intelligence in the last few years,they feel more relevant and unnerving than ever before.
10‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Ghost in the Shellisn’t just one ofthe darkest anime films ever madebut a significantly influential project in the development of the cyberpunk style within the next generation of science fiction storytelling. An R-rated film with no shortage of graphic violence and sexual content,Ghost in the Shellfeatures complex themes and stunning visuals.
Robots are often seen as faceless villains in film, but the narrative considers whether they are capable of compassion or even love.Ghost in the Shellinspired several television spinoffs and an animated sequel, which retained the same level of high quality. Unfortunately, the live-action 2017 remake starringScarlett Johanssonwas a significant disappointment that whitewashed the main character and seemed to lose sight of the complexities that made the film so special in the first place.
Ghost in the Shell
9‘Twelve Monkeys’ (1995)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Twelve Monkeysisn’t the only science fiction masterpiece from directorTerry Gilliambut it’s his mostprofound examination of the dangers humanity and technology pose to the environment.Set in the distant future,Twelve Monkeysfollows a criminal (Bruce Willis) sent back in time to stop an extreme environmentalist (Brad Pitt) from unleashing an illness that could devastate humanity.
While it deals with serious themes,Twelve Monkeysalso features the sort of anarchic humor that makes Gilliam such a unique artist. It is one of the rare films where time travel is well-developed and not just a lazy plot mechanic to explain away the complexities of the narrative.Willis gives one of his most emotionally layered and inspiring performances, but it was Pitt’s role that ended up earning him a surprising Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
12 Monkeys
8‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklatermay be best known for making “hangout” movies likeDazed and ConfusedandBefore Sunrise, but his 2006 science fiction thrillerA Scanner Darklyis an inventive animated noir filmthat examined the modern war on drugs. Based on the acclaimed story byPhillip K. Dick,A Scanner Darklyfollows an undercover cop (Keanu Reeves) as he uses emerging technology to become another person to infiltrate a drug ring.
A Scanner Darklyuses creative rotoscoping technology toexplore how the overuse of technology can lead to the loss of personal identityand serves as a searing damnation of the abuse of drug users. It’s easily the darkest, most idiosyncratic, and perhaps most political work of Linklater’s career, which is no small statement considering his impressive resume of classics.
A Scanner Darkly
7‘Videodrome’ (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Videodromeis a terrifying satire of how the media desensitizes audiences to political violence, featuring the type of disturbing body horror that onlyDavid Cronenbergwould be capable of. The disturbing 1983 classic follows the television programmer Max Renn (James Woods), who becomes interested in a strange video feed that broadcasts footage of people being tortured and murdered. It’s only after watching the program relentlessly that Max learns that nothing about the video is fake.
Videodromeexamines how seemingly normal people can lash out into political violence as a result of what they see on the screen, implicating technology in social upheaval.Videodrome’s shocking endingmay be the single most unsettling moment in Cronenberg’s catalog of classics, as it suggests that humanity may not be able to free itself from its infatuation with media influence and the images it presents.
Videodrome
6‘Total Recall’ (1990)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Total Recallis a relentless action thriller with serious brains, as it concludes with amindblowing, ambiguous endingthat has left viewers debating its implications since it was first released in 1990. Set in the distant future,Total Recallfollows construction worker Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who decides to experience a fantasy simulation where he is a secret agent. After the technology goes awry, Quaid’s reality becomes blurred when he is mistaken for an actual spy.
DirectorPaul Verhoevenincorporates some terrific practical effects, several incredible urban action sequences, and a surprising amount of gore. However,Total Recallis an all-time science fiction classic because ofits analysis of what humans fantasize aboutand how it isimpeded by the luxury of technology. The strong anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist themes are in line with the progressive viewpoints of many sci-fi tech noir films.
Total Recall
5‘Robocop’ (1987)
Robocopis one of the most brilliant cyberpunk films ever made because it’s much smarter than it has any right to be.The notion of a loyal police officer like Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) being turned into a cybernetic law enforcement instrument that strikes out against Detroit’s criminals is itself a cool idea. However, Verhoeven uses Murphy’s loss of humanity to paint a startling portrayal ofhow easily technology can erode any shards of personality.
Widely considered a cult classic,Robocopisa lean, mean, and very violent action thrillerand a rewarding piece of satire that is much sharper than it had any right to be. It paints a startling vision of the future that isn’t that much different from reality. Although it was followed by two sequels and a very disappointing PG-13 remake in 2014, nothing will top what Verhoeven accomplished with his original masterpiece.
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4‘The Terminator’ (1984)
Directed by James Cameron
The Terminatorwas an astounding breakthrough for directorJames Cameron, who usedan inventive time travel storyto create one of the coolest science fiction sagas of all time. Cameron ultimately had an optimistic message about the willingness that mankind had to fight against oppressive robots that threatened to destroy them. InLinda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor, he created one of the most empowering sci-fi heroines of all time.
The sequel,Terminator 2: Judgment Day,was a more expansive action spectacle that received acclaim for its groundbreaking use of computer-generated imagery and all-time great fight scenes. Still, the originalisa compelling mystery story with many allusions to classic noir films.It’s particularly exciting to see Sarah become aware of her role in the future and take part in assuring that she can live up to her predetermined legacy.
The Terminator
3‘Strange Days’ (1995)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Strange Daysis an incredibly inventive science fiction mystery fromKathryn Bigelowthat was simply ahead of its time. While audiences in 1995 may not have been ready for a gritty crime thriller that analyzed the connection between media saturation, police brutality, voyeuristic criminals, and the advent of video technology,Strange Daysfeels particularly prescient in today’s social climate. Bigelow created an impressive tapestry of the future that showedhow easily today’s world could devolve into a darker environment overrun by technological oppression.
Although it’s a technical marvel, first and foremost,Strange Daysis a surprisingly emotional film with great performances from its ensemble cast. AlthoughRalph FiennesandJuliette Lewisboth do great work in roles that are far different from the ones they usually take on,Strange Daysbelongs toAngela Bassett, who should’ve earned some serious awards contention.
Strange Days
Strange Days is a dystopian science fiction thriller set in the closing days of 1999 Los Angeles, where an ex-cop turned street hustler sells illegal virtual reality experiences. As society teeters on the edge of chaos, he becomes entwined in an underworld conspiracy involving murder and corruption that challenges his ideals.
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2‘The Matrix’ (1999)
Directed by Lana and Lily Wachowski
The Matrixchanged science fiction cinema forever, proving that audiences still had an appetite for original stories that challenged their accepted version of reality. Indebted to everything from the classical philosophy of Plato to 1990s anime,The Matriximagines a universe wheretechnology becomes completely dominant over humanity. The film has an inspiring message about how a hero like Neo can accept his destiny as “The One” and help mankind fight for the agency that it had given up.
The Matrixis visually transporting, creating the iconic “bullet time” sequence that changed how action films were shot within the subsequent decade. Although the reactions to the initial sequels,The Matrix ReloadedandThe Matrix Revolutions,were rather mixed, the fourth installmentwas the self-aware boost of energythat the series really needed.
The Matrix
1‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Blade Runneris an all-time classic thatuses the advent of technology to examine what truly constitutes humanity. Set in a world where humans and robots live side-by-side,Blade Runnerfollows the hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) as he falls in love with an android (Sean Young) while tracking four escaped replicants. It’s a haunting love story wrapped up in a complex noir story, featuring stunning visuals that look just as good today as they did in 1982.
Despite its complicated production process,Blade Runnerhas proven to be a film that gets better with age, as viewers are still divided on whether Deckard was intended to be a replicant the entire time. The film’s 2017 sequel,Denis Villeneuve’sBlade Runner 2049,did a great job expanding the universe with new characters without ever detracting from the perfect ambiguity of its predecessor.
