Year: 2016
Runtime: 80 min
Language: English
Director: Branden Kramer
While pursuing independence in New York City, graduate student Emma unknowingly connects with a dangerous hacker. Their online relationship evolves into a breach of her privacy, escalating to intense surveillance and mounting terror. Emma must fight to regain control of her digital life and confront the sinister forces encroaching upon her.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Ratter (2016), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Emma Taylor, portrayed by Ashley Benson, is a graduate student seeking a fresh start in New York City following her breakup with her boyfriend, Alex. Once settled into her new Brooklyn apartment, Emma soon finds her life turned upside down when an anonymous hacker begins to invade her privacy, manipulating her electronic devices and surveilling her through hidden cameras.
While navigating her new life, Emma encounters Michael, played by Matt McGorry, a charming fellow student who asks her out on a date. Their budding romance, however, takes a sinister turn when Emma experiences unsettling events following a personal moment. The hacker escalates the harassment by stealing intimate photos of Emma and sending her manipulative messages impersonating Michael, leading her to confront him. Despite his denials, Emma’s growing mistrust pushes her to distance herself from him.
In an effort to cope with her anxiety, Emma and her best friend, Nicole, head out to the club. However, while they are out trying to unwind, the hacker breaks into Emma’s apartment. Completely unaware of the danger, she returns home intoxicated and falls asleep on the couch, leaving her vulnerable as the hacker lurks just outside on her balcony.
When Michael visits later to check on her and cheer her up with a cat to keep her company, they share a heartfelt reconciliation. Yet, peace is short-lived. Michael receives a chilling email warning him to stay away from Emma, prompting her to contact the authorities, who prove ineffective in addressing her escalating fears. Emma’s feelings of isolation and despair deepens as she grapples with her harrowing situation alone.
The tension escalates when Emma returns home to find her apartment door ajar, leading her to discover her beloved cat deceased. Stricken by grief, she tries to reach out to Michael—only to be met with silence. In a desperate attempt to escape her loneliness, Emma sets out to explore the city, attempting to distract herself until she can meet Nicole later at home.
As she waits for Nicole, an unsettling video call with her mother takes a terrifying turn when the power suddenly cuts out. Emma’s world spirals into chaos as the hacker attacks her, all while her mother watches helplessly from the other side of the screen, pleading for mercy. The call ends abruptly when the laptop is shut, leaving immense dread in its aftermath.
In a chilling finale, after the credits roll, the police arrive at the scene, searching relentlessly for Emma and the identity of her tormentor, both of whom have seemingly vanished without a trace. The haunting questions of safety and trust linger as viewers are left to ponder the consequences of privacy invasion in an increasingly digital world.
Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04
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