Let's be realistic.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

====Spoiler Alert====Several years ago, while scouring for Slenderman related media, following his fast rising presence on the internet and beyond, I came across Marble Hornets. The story revolves at first around a man named Jay who discovered tapes given to him by Alex Kralie, a friend from college whom moved away three years earlier, in the back of his closet. These tapes contained bits and pieces of Alex's behind the scenes work on his student filmed (aptly named Marble Hornets). What they also contained was the presence of The Operator who seemed to be following Alex around everywhere he goes, adversely affecting him and his crew. Jay begins to investigate what was going on during the shooting of Marble Hornets and is violently thrust into a world of horrors and mysteries he could never have been prepared for.The very first entry introduces The Operator (Marble Hornet's version of Slenderman) in a subtle yet powerful way. The moment you see that head twist you'll feel as if the monster is looking directly at you and not at the character filming it. And it is at that point you are drawn into the world of Marble Hornets forever.I saw the Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 11 years old and watching Marble Hornets found footage style made me feel like I was back in that theater in 1999 and still does every time I watch it. It delivers that wonderful feeling of nostalgia while simultaneously providing new thrills that will leave you on the edge of your seat as you look for The Operator in the background of every video, hoping not to see him but at the same time desperately wanting to.The series is not without its minor flaws (abandoned plot lines, actors/actresses becoming unavailable to return, etc.) But the minor issues with it are far outweighed by the story line which does not try to be too subtle or too powerful, providing small pieces of the larger puzzle for the viewers to fill in as they go. Marble Hornets is just that: a puzzle. One that keeps drawing viewers back in to find the pieces needed to understand its intricate plot. But be prepared to have more questions at the end of each entry than answers. Marble Hornets beauty is in its simplicity. Less is more. It doesn't go overboard with special effects save for the distortions and blending of jump cuts which are used sparingly but effectively. It is not over complicated or difficult to understand what is happening but at the same time not watered down to make it too easy to follow. While watching you will theorize, guess, and speculate what is to come next and regardless of whether you are right or wrong you will not be disappointed in the outcome.This series is a journey that will make you feel as if you are living the events right alongside the characters. It immerses you in its reality and you become part of the story. Eventually, you will watch Marble Hornets for the first time if you haven't already. Just be prepared to constantly look around the room or out the nearest window as every sound you hear will bring with it that sense of dread that The Operator may be near. And it is only then will you truly experience the magic that is...Marble Hornets.

This starts out great: suspenseful, mysterious, and it has your attention right away. As film student Jay takes a look at the tapes of the unfinished project of a fellow film student, (Alex) he notices a mysterious figure appearing in several strange shots that don't seem to fit in with the rest of the film. It becomes clear that something happened to his friend and might have been hunted by the creature, also known as Slender Man. As Jay keeps studying the footage, he gets involved in it up to a point there's no way back.So, like I said, this started out very promising and it had me thrilled. However, as the series unfold, it just keeps going for too long and in my opinion, the story loses its vigor. The story stops being coherent, they keep adding things to it in a way that makes it seem like they just make it up as they go along. 'Oh, here's another tape I hadn't seen before'. Plus it seems a little too easy to include memory loss every time as an excuse to fill in the gaps, and it becomes annoying after a while he doesn't remember anything. On top of that, the character's actions don't make sense half of the time and they behave completely unrealistic. There's a scene in which Jay follows Alex deep into the woods without even knowing what they're going to do there, and at some point he just goes back on his own and Alex stays behind, in the middle of the woods. (Maybe they explain Alex's strange behaviour later on, but it's still weird Jay followed him for no apparent reason.) Also he willingly keeps wandering around in desolated houses and woods on his own, even though he knows Slender Man can show up any moment and despite his previous statement he doesn't want anything to do with it anymore.What also bugs me is the complete lack of emotion and/or fear Jay seems to have. He never once screams, seems in shock or looks/sounds the least bit frightened, panicked or emotionally affected even though his whole life has become a complete nightmare. Whenever he's on camera he just looks kind of numb, which could make sense since he's wrecked, but it's the only state he's ever in. I know I would freak the hell out in his situation, and most people would express at least some kind of emotion.Halfway through the entries, the only thing that kept me watching is that I wanted to know how it ends. I feel like the concept is really good but there's just a lot of missed chances. Too bad, I really loved the concept and the very strong beginning. That doesn't mean there are no plus points: it did keep me watching, so it's very addictive and they keep up the suspense constantly. At the end of every entry, it made me and my boyfriend go: 'Ok, ONE more'. It's definitely a recommendation if you like mystery/horror and a good scare, but don't expect a genius storyline.Still worth a 7 out of 10.

A YouTube serial (with "Entries" serving as one episode), based on the urban legend from SomethingAwful forums, Slender Man. This is another type of movie/series like the Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield... but this title is much more superior than those mentioned as the atmosphere is much more different... and arguably much better.First, close to the experience to playing Slender: The Eight Pages, the cast and crew create an atmosphere of fear in quite a lot of entries. Also, they don't overdo the fear in every entry, as they have a created a perfect balance in intensity in the series. The shaky camera adds to the fear and anxiousness as the viewer watches every entry. Some may see this as a negative, but I believe the same effect would not work if it was filmed with professional shots, so it actually works well. The acting has also found a great balance of naturalistic acting with believable characters and good portrayal. The portrayal of Slender Man is also excellent and how he appears unknowingly in a lot of entries make this series really worth watching.The only downside to the series is that there is quite a long waiting time before another entry is posted. Which again is also a good thing, it's so good you want some more. It definitely keeps you hooked.Also, this another series where I have not felt tired of any episode or actually have favourites.If you have some time, definitely check out the series and make sure he's not watching ;)

Only yesterday did I find the you-tube show "Marble Hornets". It was recommended to me by a friend because I love psychological horror and mystery. These two words perfectly describe this show.The show follows Jay, a young man who's best friend encountered a tall, blank faced creature in a business suit by the name of the Operator (or Slender Man) while filming his student film "Marble Hornets". Jay goes through the tapes in an attempt to figure out more about the creature, and is eventually forced to run from the seemingly unstoppable force as he begins to unravel the mystery.Continuity is highly important and very well done in this series. Tiny things in the first few episodes come into play in later episodes. If you are like me and LOVE connecting the dots and consuming every detail, this show rewards your hard work.The acting is a little spotty in season one (Entries 1-26), but does not detract from the story or experience. As season two hits the midpoint, the acting improves, and the story begins to unfold.The shaky hand-held camera quality is really effective in adding to the disturbing atmosphere. The creators do an incredible job of building tension and giving you a sense of dread. I found myself searching every pixel on the screen for a glimpse of Slender Man.One more small thing that I appreciated was the fact that there was close to no profanity, no sexual content, and very little actual gore. By throwing those factors out, the creators took on the challenge of making their series strong with good writing and editing, which really pays off.Overall, this show scared me more than any modern day horror film has, and is highly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's "Memento". If you want to be scared out of your wits, enjoy playing Sherlock Holmes and solving mysteries, or both, this is a must watch.9/10