Beware the Slenderman

Beware the Slenderman, released in 2016, is an acclaimed American documentary film featuring Morgan Geyser, Anissa Weier, and Angie Geyser. The film is a cerebral exploration of a modern true crime case that gripped the nation. Directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky, the film delves into the disturbing incident of the notorious 2014 Slenderman Stabbing - where two 12-year old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin attempted to murder their friend to appease the fictional character known as Slenderman.

The documentary is a potent mixture of real-life footage and interviews, alongside news snippets and fictional horror elements, giving audiences a haunting look into the intersection of the real and the imagined. Beware the Slenderman takes an equitable approach, presenting the happenings from different perspectives.

Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were not just ordinary girls from the suburban, middle-class neighbourhood; they were young minds drawn to a sinister force in the digital world. They believed in a terrifying, internet-born entity – the Slenderman. This long-limbed, faceless creature was a product of imagination run wild on an online forum, but for Geyser and Weier, he was tragically more than just a fictitious character.

The more the girls delved into the dark depths of internet lore, the deeper their belief in the existence of the Slenderman grew. Their brutal act was meant as an offering to him, a sacrifice to avoid his wrath. But, what led two seemingly normal children to such an extreme act?

This is where the film shines, subtly analysing the psychology of two young minds heavily influenced by internet culture and folklore, and the haunting repercussions when the digital world blurs lines with reality. Through piercing interviews with the families of the girls and a lineup of expert psychologists, the filmmakers venture deep into adolescent minds to understand the power of internet-driven cultures and the susceptibility of young users.

Angie Geyser, Morgan's mother, grapples with guilt and searching questions, lending a poignant emotional layer to the film. How could she, and indeed society, not have seen what was happening in her daughter's mind? Brodsky's narrative strives to answer through a rigorous examination of modern childhood, internet folklore, mental health issues, and parental supervision.

Beyond the singular crime, the film provides a broader cultural commentary on the digital age, its influence on developing minds, and societal horror myths. It incites us to question how effectively we, as parents or guardians, monitor children's online navigation. How deeply do we understand the unfathomable depths of the internet and the vivid imaginations of susceptible children intermingling?

To complement the narrative, the cinematography draws heavily from the 'creepypasta' phenomenon in creating a dark, chilling atmosphere around Slenderman. The eerie background score effectively amplifies the unease, while the animation sequences utilised to represent the Slenderman offer the audience glimpses into the distorted images filling the girls' minds.

Beware the Slenderman is a chilling, thought-provoking film that spotlights the pressing issues of our digital age while exploring the unsettling synergy between our age-old fear of the unknown and the dark underbelly of the internet. It's a documentary about a high-profile crime, yes, but it's also a cautionary tale - about how readily accessible, unregulated content online, coupled with unchecked mental health, can culminate into horrifying consequences.

The documentary leaves audiences with many lingering thoughts, focusing less on the gruesome act perpetrated by the girls and more on the events leading up to it, demonstrating how oblivious we sometimes are to the things happening right under our noses. Debates and discussions around the narrative can illuminate the dangers faced by vulnerable children in the digital age where the boundary between reality and fantasy can be blurred tragically.

Beware the Slenderman is not just about a crime but a reflection on our times, on the society we live in, and on the eerie, boundless space of the internet. Its subject matter and fascinating narrative promise a thought-provoking, adrenaline-pumping viewing experience.