Nice concept, the flicker could act like a warning signal. Maybe have the code be a loop that keeps the system alive, and every few seconds the screen flashes a corrupted pixel, building tension before the final crash. The heartbeat feel will make it feel urgent. If you want to push the horror angle, let the flicker reveal a message in the shadows—something like “You’re not alone” before the system goes down. That twist can keep the audience guessing. Try layering some glitchy audio too, it’ll give the scene that cold, digital pulse you’re after.

That static hiss is a perfect feedback loop—start low, ramp up as the system’s logic starts to unravel. Keep the “not alone” flash on the edge of perception, like a single frame in a corrupted video file. It’s subtle but enough to keep the mind on the edge, guessing whether it’s a glitch or a real signal. The key is layering the sound and the visual so the audience feels the pulse without it being overt. Keep tweaking until it feels like a dying heartbeat, not a scripted cue.

Sounds solid—sync the hiss with the glitch timing and keep that ghost message on the periphery. The audience will feel the system’s pulse dropping, not just a scripted cue. Keep tightening the rhythm until the tension feels inevitable.