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| Picture via Scary For Kids |
“We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time…” – 1983, photographer unknown, presumed dead.
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| One of two recovered photographs from the Stirling City Library blaze. Notable for being taken the day which fourteen children vanished and for what is referred to as “The Slender Man”. Deformities cited as film defects by officials. Fire at library occurred one week later. Actual photograph confiscated as evidence. – 1986, photographer: Mary Thomas, missing since June 13th, 1986. |
“Slender Man (a.k.a Slenderman) is a mythical creature often depicted as a tall, thin figure wearing a black suit and a blank face. According to the legend, he can stretch or shorten his arms at will and has tentacle-like appendages protruding from his back. Depending on the interpretations of the myth, the creature can cause memory loss, insomnia, paranoia, coughing fits (nicknamed “slendersickness”), photograph/video distortions and can teleport at will.”In this writer's opinion, what makes him truly frightening is his featureless visage. He is out of focus and nebulous while the live children and scenery around him remain in crisp contrast.
5/24/95**
1994: Wilks Estate. One subject reported nothing out of the ordinary before taking photograph. Lower stairs area was said to be very dark. Subject states that after the camera flash she heard a sound like a watermelon being *unable to understand subject*.
5/25/93**
Subject unable to recall events after manor power failure. Unable to question other two identified subjects. Camera and film acquired from Gloria Cready, current resident of Woodview Mental Hospital and Psychological Rehabilitation Clinic. Film mostly uncontaminated despite mass of blood and human tissue present on camera. No positive ID on anomalous tall and slender subject. Facial blur caused by possible contamination.
6/7/93**
Early digital analysis indicates tall subject may have no eyes. Anomalies, previously thought to be film errors and flash artifacts, now thought to be appendages.
6/10/93**
Final identified subject reported missing along with other thirty-three patients and staff of Woodview Mental Hospital and Psychological Rehabilitation Clinic south wing.
6/18/93**
Further inquiry to cease immediately.
(see report No.3339-2)
“Steinmen Woods
Both subjects were hunting in the Steinmen woods four hours before sundown. Surviving subject states that while hunting both men grew uneasy as fog levels rapidly increased. A constant murmuring sound accompanied by a low hum eventually became apparent to the two men an hour after the fog increased. An object falling out of tree stuck one of the men in the left shoulder causing him to discharge his weapon. Object said to be the body of a man of unknown age. It was very precisely dissected, with major internal organs still contained within the rib cage in what looked to be clear bags. Surviving subject placed organ bag within backpack. Attack followed several minutes later after a "low children's laugh, like a giggle". Surviving subject ran until he reached his vehicle. Subject then drove to assumed safety.
Backpack destroyed.
Surviving subject is classified as a B7 witness. B7 witness to be placed in quarantine "Blind Box" until resolution.”
“2007: Investigation team discovered twenty-two bodies of both genders and various ages impaled on broken tree branches in a radiating circle pattern with chest mutilation as often noted with Slender Man. Upon confirmation, lead investigator ********* called for an immediate evacuation of investigation team at 1700 hours. Bodies first discovered at 1100 hours. Deadline for safe evacuation of team with only viewed physical evidence of Slender Man approximately 1730. Lost contact of team at 1725. Safety procedures fell well within established protocols. Reason for abnormality is unknown. Second team recovered camera equipment one week later. Slender Man safety procedures require this incident's physical photographic evidence to be disposed of by no later than 10/20.
I honestly don't get what half this poo poo means. I'm done with this Slender Man stuff. It's starting to make me uneasy. It's like reading the GBS ghost story threads before I go to bed. Why do I have to look at this stuff while it's super late?These postings suggested there had been an investigation, witness statements taken, and the witnesses hidden away by some organization, likely law enforcement. The conspiracy and darkness was suddenly elevated to a new level. No longer was it a creature that was truly hidden, but one that was hiding and being covered up.
Luckily, my friend is coming over.”
“My friend is herejus camein barely made up staairs got pictur locked door but it s right there inthe hall dont look at its pictures it dosent want to be known about dont loo”What strikes me about this is how much the creature looks like an image of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. It is as if the artist had seen Slenderman in 1892 and had actually captured him in his art. However, researching the background of the famous painting, Munch describes its inception as a moment where the sunset gave him the impression of nature screaming (or shrieking). While this explanation seems fitting, it should also be noted that the area where Munch conceptualized this masterpiece was located near a slaughter house and insane asylum. His sister was committed in this asylum. Wouldn't it stand to reason that his sister could have glimpsed this creature? Normal people didn't even see Slenderman unless accidentally captured on photographs, but perhaps the mad could. Furthermore, the stress that Munch likely had--the psychic assault of an asylum, the slaughterhouse and his sister's affliction--could have opened up his mind just enough that Slenderman would register on his subconscious. Victor Surge may not have intended it, but here is a great little nugget of conspiracy that makes my black little heart quicken.
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| Zombie Fred isn't happy about still being in the attic, either... |
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| Image via Take 148 |
I mean, how can you grow up a horror movie/Hallowe'en fan and not know where those iconic quotes, "They're here." and "This house is clean!" come from? Not to mention the best quote, "You moved the headstones, but you didn't move the bodies!"
Some places get vanishing hitchhikers. Some get ghosts that warn trains of an impending crash. The terrifying local legend where I live? A guy in a bunny suit.
No, not this kind:
This kind.
I've been ripped off.
Bunny Man Bridge is a small railroad overpass near Clifton, VA. It is supposed to be stalked by a man wearing a bunny suit. Yes, he's usually said to be carrying an axe or similar weapon, and yes, the legends say that he attacks and mutilates anyone foolish enough to be near the bridge after dark, but I really can't get past the outfit. Being murdered by someone dressed like a giant rabbit isn't terrifying, it's embarrassing.
The bunny in question is variously reported to be an escaped convict, a refugee from a nearby (non-existent) insane asylum, or a local lunatic who graduated from mutilating wildlife to murdering children. Since "rabbit" and "insane murderer" don't seem to have any obvious link, the lapin connection is usually explained by tacked-on details such as numerous remains of snacked-upon rabbits being found in the area (or, in the case of the asylum escapee, that he was originally committed for murdering his family on--dun dun dun!!!--Easter Sunday). Nobody explains where he got the suit.
A local historian has identified the probable origin of the legend: In 1970 there were two incidents involving a man--dressed, yes, in a bunny costume--who threatened people with a hatchet whilst yelling at them for trespassing. Over the past 40 years, generations of teenagers have expanded and distorted and added details until what was probably a Furry annoyed at having his private sexytimes interrupted is now a horrible spectral murderer who...is still wearing a bunny suit. Dammit, I really can't get past the bunny suit.
Particularly annoying is that this legend has gained enormous traction throughout the Washington DC area. Civil War battles were fought all over this region. We could have legends about ghostly armies locked in eternal combat, or bloody Confederate soldiers who attack campers, or phantom funeral trains carrying rows of soldiers' coffins.
What are we actually known for? A big cranky rabbit.
Dammit, dammit, dammit....Well, Jenna, you do know what they say. "If the suit fits..." ;o)
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| Image via THETORTOISERUNS |
I'll often times throughout the day shoot an email to my brother with something blunt and short, or just a flat-out obvious lie.If it's a partial quote from a movie, he'll shoot a reply and finish the quote, no matter how obscure.
Once I emailed "Yo, we had a rough night. Spent it in the Emergency Room. Last night I saw a car with its headlights off, so I flashed my high beams. They quickly turned around and chased us down, and we crashed into a ditch. Dude, it was awful."
He got a kick out of the Urban Legend lie and sent it to a coworker.
Later in the day, a manager and one of his coworkers approached him asking him how I was doing. That first employee told a few people what had happened to me. How I was chased down by a car. And all because I tried to help and flashed my high beams.
October greetings, friends!
I feel so honored to have been asked to contribute a post to the Nest by the awesomely talented (and cute!) ShellHawk herself. See, over at my little Hallowe'en pub, the Skull & Pumpkin, we are big-time ShellHawk fans, and proudly display our Mini-Boo and Raku Jack O'Lantern to prove it!
As soon as I read the theme she had chosen for this year -- favorite scary urban legends -- the subject of my contribution came to me almost immediately. The first time I heard this legend, it chilled my blood and I've never forgotten that feeling.
I hope I can do it justice, but if you want the honest truth, I'm mostly just hoping Ape will like me. I want to make a good impression!
So, are we ready? Good.
Tonight, we're going to take a little drive, you and I.
Where? Oh, just up the hill, to a quiet little spot all the kids go to get away from prying grown-ups; to get away, to get it on, and sometimes get lost. I mean, if we're going to start exploring our favorite scary urban myths and legends, there's really only one place to go tonight.
We're heading to Lovers Lane.
THE HOOK KILLER OF LOVERS LANE
A young couple park at Lovers Lane and start making out. Things get hot enough to fog up all the windows, but then the romantic music on their radio is interrupted by a panicked voice reporting that a hook-armed maniacal killer has escaped a local prison and was last seen in the vicinity nearby, and everyone needs to be on the look out.
The mood blown for the moment, the young man tries to continue their makeout session, but growing anxious and fearing for their lives, the young lady refuses his advances and finally, in tears, begs him to drive her home. Frustrated, he peels out of Lovers Lane as fast as he can go, angry and sullen over his ruined love-making.
When they get to their destination, he gets out of the car and walks around to open her door, and suddenly freezes, his hand over his mouth, his eyes huge. The young lady, puzzled, opens her own door and looks back as she closes it.
A bloody hook is dangling from the door handle.
Now, we've all seen, heard and read a thousand variations on the tale, but this is about the most basic version -- and the basics are what's most important when exploring the cultural impact of this old legend.
How old is it? It's hard to say. Folklorists can find direct tellings of early variants in the '50s, when cars and teens became the big social scene for generations. But there were stories of serial killings at popular make-out spots in Texas and Arkansas in the '40s, and some of these are based on true crimes which may go back even further. It is possible, to some extent, that this tale and the related myth-tales about Lovers Lane (Scraping Toenails, Hanging Boyfriend and others) have their origins in a real event or combination of events.
However, the story's basis in reality (or lack thereof) is the least important part of it.
See, at its core this is a cautionary tale of teen sex, of chastity and self-control. Implied in even the most basic telling is the warning that experimenting with youthful sexual feelings is inherently fraught with risk. It also tells us that it is up to the young lady to put a stop to the proceedings, since (unspoken but very present in the end of the tale) it was her denial of sex and demand to leave right away that saved them -- not just from a killer but from the dreaded '4th Base' of the teen sexual field.
This leads to an element crucial to the logic of the story: the young man's reaction to his own sexual frustration. His anger makes him really rev that engine, and peel out in a cloud of gravel and dust, and it is this tantrum that tears from the escaped maniac's arm his horrible hook. This frustration turns out to be a good thing; if a girl does her job and puts her foot down, her man might be upset for a while, but he'll be glad later -- avoiding not just one hook, but another, altogether different sort of 'hook'.
Sexist, sure, but in the '50s, not much wasn't.
And that's the whole point of exploring this tale -- like all classic, enduring scary urban myths, it's a spooky little morality play with a warning to give and a lesson to teach. It says teen sex is bad, and that saving her virginity saves them both; mom, dad and the preacher can sleep easy, even as their teen kids lie awake in terror.
The story has had value all through the following decades, eventually becoming the dark heart of a slew of 'new' horror icons in the '70s and '80s -- can't you see the similarity of this tale to slasher films like Hallowe'en or Friday the 13th? Who gets killed first? That's right, the unmarried teen partiers, or failing that, the town drunk who first stumbles upon the killer/monster/thing of evil. The moral -- doing risky things will kill you, but being chaste, prudent and responsible will help you survive.
The Hook Killer, like Michael Myers, Jason and others who came later, is really just doing the job of parents, preachers and teachers --the Hook is FATE, and whether you meet it as death in a fogged up sexual romp or heed its lesson by driving away is up to YOU.
The tale persists, growing and changing into ever more inventive (if not always scarier) ways on movie screens, in books and television shows, not only because its object lesson is still valued by most parents but also because it simply works as a good, scary story. The best ones never get old, never go away, and always scare the new listener, the new reader, no matter how young or old. Classic...
Generations remember being scared by it, even if they never considered all the societal mores attached to it from the beginning, and they pass it on to the next group of wide-eyed preteens who, even while they scream and giggle and shiver, are also just beginning to consider whether the girl next door is starting to fill out, or if they should let the new boy at school go further than holding hands.
The Hook Killer of Lovers Lane admonishes us to save ourselves, teaches us what we can expect if we don't, and stabs home each of its lessons with a sharp, bloody terror dangling from your door.
Not bad for an old story we've all heard a million times.
Okay, we'll drive back now. I didn't want to be here even this long! I guess I can sure go on and on, eh?
Hey, what th -- ? The car won't start.
Seriously, we're out of gas, no joke.
Come on... we'll have to walk home.
Oh, don't panic! It's not that far.
Just a dark road.
Here... I'll just come 'round and let you out...
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