Ghost in the Machine

Ghost in the Machine

Year: 1993

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Rachel Talalay

HorrorThrillerHorror

After a freak, fatal accident, the murderous soul of Karl—dubbed the Address Book Killer—becomes trapped within the electrical grid. Hungry for new victims, he fixes his attention on Terry and her son, turning everyday home devices into lethal weapons that stalk and attack them at every turn.

Ghost in the Machine (1993) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Ghost in the Machine (1993) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world where the invisible threads of electricity bind every modern convenience, a single, malevolent presence has slipped into the grid. That presence once belonged to a notorious killer, now reduced to a digital specter that can weave through wires, appliances, and the very currents that power a home. The film opens with the unsettling notion that the safety of ordinary objects—microwaves, chargers, lights—has been subverted, turning the familiar into something quietly hostile.

The story centers on Terry, a resilient mother whose life is suddenly shadowed by this unseen threat. Alongside her son Josh, she must navigate a house that seems to have taken on a mind of its own, each room pulsing with the promise of danger. Their ordinary routine is upended as the appliances they rely on begin to act with a predatory logic, stalking the pair at every turn. The tension is amplified by the claustrophobic atmosphere of a suburban home turned arena, where the hum of circuitry becomes a relentless soundtrack to their growing unease.

Seeking a way out of the invisible siege, Terry draws on the expertise of Bram, a skilled computer hacker who understands the language of the network better than most. Their uneasy alliance blends raw parental determination with technical savviness, setting up a dynamic where human intuition clashes with cold, algorithmic menace. The film’s tone balances a sleek, techno‑thriller aesthetic with a visceral, home‑invasion horror, keeping the audience on edge as the familiar glow of screens and the soft click of switches threaten to become the instruments of terror.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 15:23

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Techno-horror siege movies like Ghost in the Machine

Invisible digital entities stalk victims through the devices of modern life.If the premise of a killer trapped in the electrical grid appealed to you, discover more movies like Ghost in the Machine. This thread gathers similar thrillers and horror films where digital entities or supernatural forces use modern technology as weapons, creating intense stories of survival against an invisible, omnipresent threat.

technological dreadparanoidclaustrophobicunsettlinganxioushigh-stakessurvival horror

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin with a technological anomaly or a supernatural event merging with a digital system. The protagonists, often ordinary people, find their safe spaces violated as everyday devices—phones, appliances, cars—become hostile. The plot unfolds as a desperate siege, focusing on survival, paranoia, and the race to understand and stop a foe that can be anywhere and attack from anything.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core fear of technology's unseen dangers, a relentless and tense tone, and a narrative structure centered on a domestic or technological siege. They create a specific kind of vulnerability where safety is an illusion, and the enemy is integrated into the very fabric of modern existence.

Supernatural stalker horror similar to Ghost in the Machine

Malicious entities with no physical form hunt their prey from the shadows.Fans of the invisible killer in Ghost in the Machine will enjoy this collection of similar horror movies. Discover films featuring ghosts, spirits, or digital entities that act as unstoppable stalkers, creating narratives defined by pervasive dread, psychological terror, and ambiguous threats that defy conventional means of defense.

supernaturalunseen threatpsychological terrorrelentlessanxioushauntingsurvival

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an intelligent, vengeful, or simply malicious entity that becomes fixated on a target or group. Lacking a permanent body, it uses the environment—be it a house, technology, or unseen forces—to torment and attack. The protagonists' journey is one of escalating terror as they attempt to uncover the entity's nature and weakness while surviving its relentless, often unpredictable assaults.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their central antagonist: an invisible, supernatural stalker. This creates a shared mood of pervasive anxiety and vulnerability. The tone is consistently tense and unsettling, with a focus on the psychological impact of being hunted by something that cannot be fought face-to-face.

Unlock the Full Story of Ghost in the Machine

Don't stop at just watching — explore Ghost in the Machine in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Ghost in the Machine is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ghost in the Machine Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Ghost in the Machine, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Ghost in the Machine Summary

Ghost in the Machine Timeline

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Ghost in the Machine Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghost in the Machine

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Ghost in the Machine

More About Ghost in the Machine

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Ghost in the Machine: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Discover movies like Ghost in the Machine that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.