But the torment nexus is so cool!

It's fine, I'll just create a small torment nexus!

Not OP. Making guesses here…

• Idiocracy = humanity becomes catastrophically stupid / institutions decay
• The Matrix = humans are reduced to resources inside a machine-controlled system
• Terminator = machines actively exterminate humanity

Idiocracy X Matrix: People are dumb & happy, caused their own problems, so maybe Wall-E?

Idiocracy X Terminator: Our stupidity puts us in a bad situation of creating our own demise. Dr. Strangelove perhaps?

Matrix X Termiantor: Machine dominate humanity out of existence. The cross here feels shallow, like these films are pretty similar with regards to humans, machines, and the outcome. Oblivon (2013) kinda works? 9 could also work.

Center: I dunno, Robocop? Systems failing, corporations suck, lethal machines. Honestly Black Mirror likely wins, but it’s too broad a series.

They weren't relevant for the message.

Because your job is to shutup, keep your head in the sand, and pay your taxes while your life force is drained from you by entities and machinations beyond your grasp.

Because much of the world’s economy is powered by the collective addiction of a huge portion of the population that willingly gives up its agency and privacy for hits of brain chemicals that make them feel superficially good while ultimately only serving the needs of a few obscenely wealthy people who fully understand and are okay with the harms they cause. We’re their batteries. We give them their power and they trap us with shiny gadgets and new games to play, continually turning our power against us and exploiting more of our economic, social, and cultural value.

I feel like Gattaca or Metropolis are missing here...