After the found footage genre changed the face of cinema with its presentation of stories through a character's personal camera, filmmaking evolved, telling stories through the camera of a character's personal computer. Thus, the "computer screen film" genre was born.
The computer screen film takes place on one specific screen, whether it be on a computer desktop or on a smartphone. The action is recorded through webcams or camera phones, and the story never moves away from a screen. Since computer screens have dominated the lives of so many, these films have become very popular.
10 Megan Is Missing (2011) - 4.6
Megan Is Missing is one of the first modern computer screen films, as it takes place only through video chats on computers and cell phones. Made for just $35,000, Megan Is Missing revolves around a teenage girl who goes missing after chatting with a mysterious boy online. Her best friend then investigates what happened to her. The film's director, Michael Goi, was the cinematographer for Lisa Kudrow's Web Therapy, which takes place through video chats on a computer screen, too.
Many critics found the film disturbing, while others considered it a good cautionary tale for teenagers who chat with strangers online. Despite its release in 2011, Megan is Missing became a viral hit in 2020 after clips appeared on the video-sharing app Tik Tok.
9 Open Windows (2014) - 5.2
In Open Windows, a big-time actress cancels a dinner she's supposed to have with a contest-winning fan. However, the fan, (Elijah Wood) gets more than he bargained for when a mysterious man gives him access to the actresses' life via the cameras in her laptop and phone. The film makes use of windows on a computer with each one opening for a specific reason, and the plot moves along solely by what pops up on the screen.
Open Windows premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival to mixed reviews. Some praised the premise and the technique, while others criticized the movie's convoluted and overly complicated plot.
8 The Collingswood Story (2002) - 5.3
Three years after The Blair Witch Project and years before YouTube and Skype dominated viewers' lives, filmmaker Mike Costanza created The Collingswood Story, which takes place solely on webcams through a character's computer, pretty much starting the computer screen genre before it was a thing.
The film concerns a girl who stays in touch with her boyfriend via webcam. However, things go array when they cam with an online psychic. The film was produced when video chatting on a computer was in its infancy and not mainstream. Because of this, distributors were initially reluctant to release it, not yet releasing how inventive it was yet. However, it ultimately became a harbinger for technology and films to come.
7 Unfriended (2014) - 5.5
Unfriended was the first mainstream computer screen movie hit when released in 2014. Taking place solely through screen share, Unfriended revolves around friends on a group video call who seem to be haunted by the ghost of a bullied classmate who took their own life.
Extremely clever, groundbreaking, and suspenseful, Unfriended proved to be the successful next step in the found footage genre. Never before has watching the "someone is typing" dots been so tension-filled suspenseful. Shot in very long takes in which each performer was separated in different rooms and made for just $1M, the film ultimately grossed $64M. In 2018, a Blumhouse produced sequel, Unfriended: Dark Web, was released to even better reviews than the first.
6 Spree (2020) - 5.9
Produced by Drake and premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Spree explores the dark side of social media and those who live-stream their lives. The film concerns Kurt, a driver for a rideshare app, who's obsessed with going viral. It takes a dark turn when he begins killing his passengers and live-streaming their murders.
Reviews were positive, as many critics enjoyed its critique and satire of the social media lifestyle, influencers, and the dark quest for fame. Also, a stand-out is the lead performance from Stranger Things' Joe Keery as Kurt.
5 The Den (2013) - 6.0
The Den explores the world of random online video chat sites like Omegle or Chatroulette where users can chat with strangers all over the world randomly. Filmed entirely through a computer screen, the action takes place when a woman witnesses a murder through a random video chat on a website called The Den.
The Den is another film that tackles today's obsession with social media. It takes Hitchcock's Rear Window and updates it for the 21st century. Critics found the film to be clever in its execution of the technique, albeit lacking in any real scares.
4 Host (2020) - 6.5
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, communicating via the video meeting app Zoom became a part of everyday life. Naturally, it wasn't long before it became the basis of a computer screen horror movie. Host takes place through Zoom and features quarantining characters who conduct a seance over the video chatting app and strange occurrences begin.
Filmed at the height of the pandemic, Host was shot remotely with quarantined actors having to handle the special effects themselves. The film was then released onto the horror streaming site Shudder to great reviews that praised its genuine scares and clever use of the technique.
3 Profile (2021) - 6.8
Inspired by a true event, Profile tells the story of a female journalist investigating the recruitment of young women by the terrorist organization ISIS. The journalist poses as a potential recruit and communicates with an ISIS fighter via Skype. She begins to have romantic feelings for him, but things take a turn after he discovers who she really is.
Shot completely through screen share and taking place over Skype, Profile takes the computer screen genre and uses it to craft a great thriller instead of the usual horror movie fare the format is typically used for. Many critics praised the film, though some criticized the convoluted plot.
2 Face 2 Face (2016) - 6.8
Instead of thriller or horror, Face 2 Face uses the computer screen format to showcase a teen drama. The film concerns two friends, Madison and Teel, who communicate from different parts of the country via video chat and help each other with teenage problems ranging from romance to bullying and abuse.
The type of film that's commonly referred to as a "two-hander," Face 2 Face is anchored by great performances from the two leads, Daniella Bobadilla and Daniel Amerman. Their chemistry carries the film, creating a moving, emotional, and authentic experience that's enhanced by the aesthetic employed.
1 Searching (2018) - 7.6
Made for just $880,000, Searching was a massive hit, pulling in $75M when released in 2018. The film follows David (John Cho) as he desperately tries to find his missing daughter. To do so, he uses her computer, and the entire story is told via video chats, files, and messages on the device.
Premiering initially at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, Searching received great reviews from critics who felt the movie used the typically gimmicky aesthetic and actually crafted a thrilling film with great characters and performances. For his performance, Cho received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor. A sequel is currently in development.
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