Review: Beware of the Slenderman

0
7597

Slenderman is a legend that has dominated the internet. Since 2009 there have been reports of this slender being who kidnaps children, with several images and videos that supposedly prove its existence. This myth became so famous that it still runs around the internet, with obscure forums created just for discussions about it (some say they are even controlled by his followers) and, what was the total blast of Slendeman, a famous game based on it.

Real or not, this legend did more than provide speculation and games, it was thanks to Slenderman that two 12-year-old American girls stabbed a friend of the same age, claiming that if they didn't, the supernatural being would hurt their family. . And this is the theme addressed in the documentary by HBO, Beware the Slenderman, which with data from this crime analyzes the influence of horror tales on children's lives.

Using real footage from the trial of Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, the documentary narrates this shocking case. Morgan and Anissa claim they need to stab their colleague, known among friends as Lovely, at the behest of the fictional monster, or else he would hurt their families. While showing the facts, the production adds statements from the families of the children involved and professionals, such as internet figures who usually analyze these myths, psychologists and scholars.

Crítica: Cuidado com o Slenderman 1
Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier

Without the slightest interest in judging the veracity of the legend that originated this monster, the feature barely discusses it, using the information spread on the internet just to show Slenderman's popularity and explain how it could influence two children to the point of having the desire to become assassins. And this is the interesting part of this documentary, between explanations of how something fictional became so real and the easy access of children to this material, speculates on the danger of the free and continuous use of electronic devices among young people.

However, this social critique is the only really interesting part of the production. By focusing on showing the risks of the internet without supervision, the director Irene Taylor Brodsky ended up getting lost in relation to the case that really should be analyzed and ends up delivering a documentary that doesn't seem to find its place. Sold as a work that would explore the monster, using a very sober tone in its dissemination, Beware the Slenderman ends up turning into something completely different from what is proposed, barely analyzing the myth and the case.

With the two accused being held in prison, without the option to give any statement, the families end up taking the lead role, but the victim is practically left aside, neither she nor her family are exploited. In the same way, they do not try to justify the case, nor point out culprits, they only present the children's version - who in fact never denied their involvement with the crime - and present the result of the long trial.

Beware the Slenderman it does not deal in depth with the proposed subjects, thus being able to displease those interested in myth and crime. However, it makes an in-depth analysis of the way this influential generation is being raised, in addition to harshly criticizing the American prison system, paying off mainly to open the eyes of parents.

resume
Thunder Wave review
beware-with-the-slenderman-review-reviewThe documentary doesn't delve too deeply into the myth and the case, but it has a beautiful social critique of the way the new generation is being raised.

LEAVE AN ANSWER

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here