Slenderman (Creepypasta)

"You see him too, don't you?"

— Alex Kralie, Marble Hornets (2009)

Slenderman is a modern urban legend and internet phenomenon that originated as a piece of horror fiction on the Something Awful forums in 2009. Depicted as an unnaturally tall, faceless humanoid figure dressed in a black suit, Slenderman is known for stalking and abducting children, as well as causing psychological distress to those who encounter him. His mythos quickly spread across the internet, evolving into a widespread cultural phenomenon through viral stories, artwork, and web series like Marble Hornets. Although fictional, Slenderman’s influence has been linked to real-world events, including criminal cases, further cementing his eerie legacy in popular culture.

History[]

Slenderman was created on June 10, 2009, by Eric Knudsen (using the pseudonym "Victor Surge") as part of a Photoshop contest on the Something Awful forums. The contest asked users to create paranormal images, and Knudsen's submission included two edited photos of children with a tall, faceless figure in the background, accompanied by chilling captions suggesting the figure was responsible for the disappearances of the children.

Slenderman’s backstory and powers were vague and open to interpretation, which allowed internet users to expand on the mythos. He was quickly adopted into creepypasta culture (a genre of short horror stories circulated online), becoming a central figure in modern internet horror. His myth was further popularized through fan-made videos, web series like Marble Hornets, and numerous works of fiction and art.

Characteristics[]

Appearance[]

Slenderman is typically depicted as an unnaturally tall and thin figure, often standing between 8 to 10 feet tall. His most distinctive feature is his lack of facial features—his face is either entirely blank or featureless, giving him a terrifying and inhuman appearance. He is always dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie, adding a surreal, formal quality to his horrifying presence.

In some versions of the mythos, Slenderman is also said to have long, tentacle-like appendages that emerge from his back. These tentacles can stretch out to incredible lengths, and are often used to grab or capture his victims.

Behaviour[]

Slenderman’s behaviour varies depending on the version of the story, but he is consistently portrayed as a stalker and abductor, particularly of children. His presence is said to cause paranoia, fear, and hallucinations, often driving his victims into madness before he strikes. Those who encounter Slenderman often report feeling a sense of dread or doom, as if they are being watched at all times.

He is often said to manipulate his victims over time, subtly influencing them or appearing in their peripheral vision, gradually drawing them into his clutches. In many stories, Slenderman’s victims vanish without a trace, with no evidence left behind except for sightings of the tall figure in the background of photos or videos.

Habitat[]

Slenderman is typically associated with forests, abandoned buildings, and isolated locations where his victims are most vulnerable. In many stories, he is said to lurk in the background, blending in with tall trees or dark shadows. The isolation of these locations heightens the fear and vulnerability of those who encounter him, making escape difficult or impossible.

However, because Slenderman’s myth originated on the internet, his "habitat" is more abstract, often appearing wherever his story is told. His presence is often connected to modern media, such as videos, photographs, and even social media posts.

Strengths[]

Supernatural Stalker - Slenderman is an expert at lurking and watching his victims from a distance, slowly driving them mad before he makes his move.
Teleportation - In many versions of the myth, Slenderman has the ability to appear and disappear at will, or move rapidly through space, making escape nearly impossible.
Psychological Manipulation - Slenderman is often said to influence the minds of his victims, causing paranoia, hallucinations, and fear.
Tentacle Limbs - His long, tentacle-like appendages can reach out to capture or control his victims.

Weaknesses[]

No Clear Origin: Because Slenderman’s mythos is fragmented and spread through various internet stories, his weaknesses are unclear or inconsistent. Some versions suggest that running or avoiding isolated areas can help, but there is no universally accepted way to stop him.
Limited Physical Evidence: Slenderman often operates in the background, and many of his encounters leave no physical trace, making it difficult to confirm or fight back against him.

Reported Sightings[]

The Waukesha Stabbing Incident (2014)[]

In May 2014, two 12-year-old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, lured their friend into the woods and stabbed her, claiming they were attempting to appease Slenderman. The girls believed they needed to commit the act to become proxies of Slenderman and live in his mansion in the forest. The victim survived the attack, but the incident shocked the world, bringing the dangers of internet mythologies into the spotlight. This case led to widespread media coverage and increased scrutiny of online horror culture.

Media Appearances[]

Slenderman’s influence has spread across multiple forms of media, including web series, movies, video games, and literature.

Movies
- Slender Man (2018)
- Beware the Slenderman (2016)

Video Games
- Slender: The Eight Pages (2012)
- Slender: The Arrival (2013)

Literature
- Slenderman: Online Mythology and the Creation of a Modern Monster by Trevor J. Blank and Lynne S. McNeill (2018)
- The Slender Man Mysteries: An Internet Urban Legend Comes to Life by Nick Redfern (2018)

Trivia[]

Slenderman is part of the creepypasta genre, a collection of user-generated horror stories that are shared and circulated on the internet.
The character is often compared to traditional boogeymen figures, who stalk children and take them away.
Despite his internet origins, Slenderman has taken on a life similar to older urban legends, with people sometimes claiming to have "real" sightings of the figure.