10 Movies That Tried To Make The Internet Scary

1. You've Got Mail

Tom Hanks, happily creeping on Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail
Warner Bros.

This romantic remake of The Shop Around the Corner wasn't meant to be creepy, terrifying or even eccentric, it was just a sign of the times. But there's something seriously wrong with a Tom Hanks movie where Tom Hanks creeps you out. Even his debut in He Knows You're Alone, a slasher flick in which he's a red-herring, is less disturbing.

It opens on a shot of New York City that appears like what Snake Plisken sees when he's flying into prison-New York of the future before dissolving into a Randy Newman state of reality - one in which Meg Ryan runs a small bookshop fighting against a Border's-esque supermart (people read books in 1998, you see) run by Tom Hanks. But secretly, they're AOL-lovers who want to one day meet in person.

It's incredible to think now how dated the film is, considering how Border's are essentially sold out marketplaces for annual Halloween costumes, but the freakiest thing in the movie is that, even after Hanks learns who his online love interest is, he toys with her.

Without the name "Ephron" in the credits, it could have easily been the scariest movie of the year.

Contributor
Contributor

Kenny Hedges is carbon-based. So I suppose a simple top 5 in no order will do: Halloween, Crimes and Misdemeanors, L.A. Confidential, Billy Liar, Blow Out He has his own website - thefilmreal.com - and is always looking for new writers with differing views to broaden the discussion.