Created by Eric “Victor Surge” Knudson in 2009 as the Photoshopped image that cemented the largely uniform appearance, Slenderman, complete with “quotes” offering the minimal backstory that he makes others abduct and kill children.
While not the most original or in-depth concept, Slenderman became an instant phenomenon, and more images, stories and more popped up on message boards and forums everywhere.
And, eventually, he entered the confessions of children.
Hearkening back to the days when listening to records backwards supposedly relayed messages from the devil, Beware the Slenderman is about a spooky being that wasn’t even around when Saw V was released.