Modem

Determined to take their family on a digital detox, Michael (Josh Burdett) and Johanna (Amanda Renberg) arrive at a remote cabin in the Swedish countryside with their two children. When teenager Nora (Nika Estelle) discovers an old, dusty modem hidden under the floorboards, she seizes her opportunity to talk to her friends online. However, plugging in the device also awakens a vengeful demon that kidnaps infant son Stig. Taking cues from Evil Dead and Poltergeist, director and co-writer Tim James Brown delivers an eerie and atmospheric chiller with his feature debut, Modem. While this demonic techno-horror contains an intriguing premise and a handful of effective frights, an uneven pacing dampens the tension.

Brown does an excellent job at building suspense once the titular technology goes online and a Raimi-inspired tracking shot follows the entity as it rushes into the house. Although the spirit doesn’t strike until around the halfway point, scenes of it manipulating technology to voyeuristically observe the family or hacking into social media accounts ensure that its presence is always felt. A malignant force interfering with digital spaces also functions as a timely metaphor for the dangers of the internet. However, these ideas aren’t explored to the same extent as other internet-focused horrors.

The feature finds its footing once the child goes missing and Detective Bergman (a marvellous Fredrik Gunnarsson) steps in to investigate. Not only do striking similarities to a disappearance from 25 years ago deepen the mystery, but the filmmaker also deploys a collection of creative and unexpected scares. While some of the CGI effects are a little rough around the edges, Brown makes full use of unsettling sound design to heighten the sense of dread, with two back-to-back scares during one nighttime sequence hitting all the right notes.

Between the family drama, police investigation, and demonic terror, Brown and co-writer Simon Riley pack a lot of ideas into their script. By focusing primarily on Michael’s suspected involvement in the second half, there’s little time left to explore the ghostly threat or further tighten the terror. The result is a rushed final act with untapped potential.

Modem is a fascinating gem that incorporates supernatural chills with techno and folk horror to compelling effect. While Brown demonstrates a keen knowledge and love for the genre, a flat final act serves as an anticlimactic end to an otherwise strong feature debut.