10 Horrific Sci-Fi Movie Moments That Come Out Of Nowhere

Another iconic sci-fi franchise, The Matrix features one of the most inventive and challenging storylines in any modern film. The hacker Thomas Anderson, aka Neo, begins to believe his world and life are an illusion - and his hypothesis turns out to be true.

For much of the film's first act, things appear normal. But when Neo meets Morpheus and takes the red pill, reality fractures around him and he sees first-hand the horrors of the future. Bursting his way out of a pod, our lead protagonist is effectively reborn.

Yet, waking up is just the start of it. After an unwanted close encounter with a hostile machine, Neo eventually learns the full story. At the turn of the 21st Century, mankind created an artificial intelligence, one which gave rise to a race of machines. After taking over the planet, these robots now grow and harvest humans in their thousands while hunting those who have escaped the false dreamworld.

It's all masterfully revealed with atmospheric effects and a harrowing music score. Considering how the audience witnesses this truth alongside Neo, the nightmarish imagery lands with a brutally effective impact.

Keanu Reeves' reaction on-screen says it all, and it's a truly horrifying realisation and one of the most memorable in the genre.