Slender Man (2018)

The young legend of the child stealing, faceless giant that is Slender Man has rapidly grown and progressed since its creation on an online forum. Creepy videos and photographs have given the story a feeling of veracity that would make anyone fear to explore the world of this terrifying figure and the real life horror it has caused. It is therefore no surprise that the tale has been brought to the big screen for the first time. Directed by Sylvian White who will be best known for films The Losers, and I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Slender Man is one to avoid this Halloween season.

Four teenage girls decide to try out the talked about ritual of “summoning Slender Man” at a sleepover. After watching the online video the girls move on with their lives without discussing it further, despite being noticeably distressed by what they experienced. That is until one of them suddenly disappears in the nearby forest days later. This sets off a series of events in which the group must try to understand and undo the evil they have released in the form of Slender Man. A tall, thin figure that is known for its desire to steal children and destroy the minds of those who summon it, and tampering with the dark web has made these girls next on its list.

The mythos of Slenderman was born online and widely searched and shared in order to terrify ourselves through our computer screens. It has now ventured onto the big screen in order to bring the tale that was only told through photo shopped pictures and stories to life in front of our very eyes. It is a shame that there is a greater chance of giving oneself a scare through the content found on the internet rather than through this blockbuster production. A boring script that flat lines the entire film from beginning to end and engages no one, paired with a severe lack of enjoyable scares and atmosphere makes for an underwhelming ninety minutes. The two stars given can be clarified as the one entertaining scare involving the use of video call which sends shivers down the spine if only for a minute, and the ever captivating work of Javier Botet as he brings the disturbing physique of Slenderman to life. Once again proving that computer technology cannot completely overshadow the work of an actor. Such promise in an original, contemporary idea with disappointing execution, this film is hopefully not the last attempt at Slenderman as it will be an opportunity wasted.