Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Morgan Geyser | ... | Self - Stabbing Suspect | |
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Anissa Weier | ... | Self - Stabbing Suspect |
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Angie Geyser | ... | Self - Morgan's Mother |
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Bill Weier | ... | Self - Anissa's Father |
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Michael O. Bohren | ... | Self - Judge |
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Michelle Trussoni | ... | Self - City of Waukesha Police Department |
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Kristi Weier | ... | Self - Anissa's Mother |
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Payton Leutner | ... | Self - Stabbing Victim (archive footage) |
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Trevor J. Blank | ... | Self - Digital Folklorist |
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Brad Kim | ... | Self - KnowYourMeme.com |
Richard Dawkins | ... | Self - Evolutionary Biologist | |
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Jack Zipes | ... | Self - Literary Critic |
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Tom Haynes | ... | Self - Anissa's Former Teacher |
Abigail Baird | ... | Self - Neuropsychologist | |
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Tyler | ... | Self - Former Fellow Inmate |
Lurking in the shadows of the Internet, a faceless modern-day bogeyman has attracted the attention and fear of a young generation who whisper his name online. Slenderman lives on the dark pages of the web, where impressionable youth create and cultivate his mythos in message boards, YouTube clips and various other digital incantations. But the online fairy tale becomes a shocking real-life horror as two 12-year-old girls, guided by their devotion to Slenderman, lure their friend into the woods to attempt a seemingly inexplicable, brutal murder. From the depths of one the Internet's most unsettling creations to the court case that must consider the consequences, Beware the Slenderman brings to light questions of accountability in an age where young, growing minds are only a few clicks away from creating and consuming something that may influence them to commit unspeakable crimes.
Others have summarized this documentary far better than I can. I will just reiterate that the movie is far too long. There is a lengthy description of folklore and horror stories, which could have been cut down considerably.
Then there are the interviews with the parents of the two perpetrators, which also could have been cut down. It seems like there is a lot of repetition.
This movie could have been tightened up and submitted as a short- subject documentary, and I think it would have been better.
I did like the courtroom sequences; however, the cases are not yet resolved. Perhaps the film-maker could have waited another six months to give the story a better conclusion? Obviously the appeals are going to drag on for years, but at least show the audience the outcome of the trials, which apparently are taking place in the spring of 2017.
I also would have liked to have heard from the victim, or a member of the victim's family.