Not an adaptation of a novel or a comic, the incoming horror Slender Man gives shape and story to an internet meme. The invented urban legend first arrived online in 2009, and his big screen iteration is directed by Sylvain White. Slender's original creator, Victor Surge, has also been involved in the writing process, and the first trailer has just sidled up, hot on the heels of the poster (for which, scroll down).
Slender Man himself is a tall, thin horrifying figure with unnaturally long arms, a featureless face, and a black suit. He is reputed to be responsible for the haunting and disappearance of countless children and teens. He grew out of a couple of fake photographs Surge posted online as part of a game involving the creation of "paranormal images". The point was to see if forumites on paranormal sites could be fooled. Some were. Many others just liked the story and ran with it until it became something of a phenomenon. But it wasn't all fun and games: Slender's notoriety took a nasty turn when he started to be cited as the impetus for actual crimes, comitted by children who thought he was real.
Perversely, the Slender Man filmmakers will no doubt be hoping that some of that spooky infamy translates to controversy and box office. Javier Botet, Jaz Sinclair, Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Annalise Basso and Kevin Chapman star, and the film arrives in May.
