Five Movies that Make TV's To Catch a Predator Look like Sesame Street

The Information Age makes a wonderful backdrop for Hollywood thrillers. Unfortunately, many of these movies are based on real stories. Tales of horrible predators using the Internet to live out their sick fantasies. Sometimes the victims are young girls; at times they are grown women. Chat rooms, online games, and other social networking tools have provided a lot of wiggle room for people with wicked intentions. Here are some popular (and lesser known) films that showcase the Internet's darker side.

(Possible SPOILERS)

"Megan is Missing" (2011)

This movie (claiming to be based on a true story) unveils its horror in the form of "lost footage." The movie, which has indie sleeper written all over it centers on a pair or tweens, one of whom (Megan) meets a guy named Josh on the Internet. But the romance never materializes. "Josh" isn't who he says he is, and Megan disappears. Just when you think you've figured out how this story will end, things spiral deeply and terribly out of control.

"Trust" (2010)

Like "Megan is Missing", this film focuses on a 14 year-old girl named Annie who has become involved with a boy she meets online. The boy however, turns out to be a 30-something year old man who rapes her in a hotel room. "Trust" goes a bit deeper into the emotional effects that this kind of tragedy has on the families involved. Catherine Keener and Clive Owen star as Annie's equally tortured parents in this movie directed by David Schwimmer. (Yes, that David Schwimmer-from Friends.)

"Hard Candy" (2005)

Starring Ellen Page, this movie puts a boomerang effect on everything you think you know about online predators. This movie is all sorts of dark. But not in the way you might imagine. "Hard Candy" tells the story of Hayley (14 years old) and Jeff (32 years old), who have been chatting online. They meet in person and go back to Jeff's house. A psychological cat and mouse game ensues like no other.

"Fear Dot Com" (2002)

Chances are, you've never seen this movie. And if you have, you might not admit it. This little film from 2002 had all the makings of a legitimate thriller. The predator uses the Internet to lure victims into a psychotic, suicidal frenzy. The bad guy, played brilliantly by Stephen Rea is at the center of the whole mess. The rest of the tale may seem a bit convoluted. But the gist of the story is loud and clear. Visit FearDotcom and die a horrible death within 48 hours.

"Strangeland" (1998)

The world gave Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider the "side eye" when "Strangeland" was released in 1998. The movie follows a pair of young girls drawn to an Internet site in which Snider portrays a lecherous killer. This is perhaps one of the first films that feature the dangers of the World Wide Web---and subsequently, the intricate details of human torture.

Honorable Mention: "Untraceable" (2008)

While this movie has nothing to do with young girls, it does feature an online predator who's concocted hideous ways to torture his victims. The clever killer has developed elaborate traps fueled by the public's visits to a site called Killwithme.com. Diane Lane took a break from comedy, romance, and steamy on-screen trysts to become Detective Jennifer Marsh---a single mom charged with bringing this online murderer to justice. Some might call "Untraceable" a watered-down attempt at torture-porn. And perhaps it's true. On the other hand, these days the web has become one of the scariest places on earth.

SOURCES:

www.rottentomatoes.com

www.omg.yahoo.com

www.movies.yahoo.com

More From This Contributor:

How to Avoid Being Mistaken for an Online Predator

How to Tell If Your Online "Friend" Is Really Your Mate

Hollywood Blondes with Darker Personalities