Horror Short Showcase: 'Fathom'

Written by Scott Edwards

While I still do not fully understand how the legend of the Slenderman started, I must admit that he has really made a name for himself. Coming after children and taking them to places unknown is a pretty freaky thing for kids to think about. With different theories about what he actually does with the children, one thing is consistent about his story, he has no face and people should fear him when they see him, but that is all I can really gather. Hopefully one day we will fully understand the Slenderman and what his intentions are for us, because like all stories, there may be a shred of truth behind them.
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Running through the woods with his sister Emily, Cole has no idea what he is facing off against. The strange form of a man with no face and elongated limbs is after him and his sister and there seems to be no escape. Trying his hardest to protect his little sister, Cole is shocked when she mysteriously vanishes from his side. Seeing her walking hand and hand with the strange man, Cole takes a shot, making the mysterious man upset and he gets into a fight that he cannot win.

Forty years later, Cole is still trying to find out what happened on that day. With reports of missing children all over the world, he believes that this strange man is behind it all. Knowing that the man moved in a way that did not follow the rules of our reality, this man has to be a being that can exist across different worlds. With all of the information he has gathered over the years, Cole will stop at nothing to find out what this man is doing with the children and he may finally get the chance to ask the man face to face when he sees the mark on his wall indicating that the creature has returned.

Interesting little story, based on the Slenderman. I liked the effects that were put into play in this film, mainly because the jumping of the screen is very effective when you want to make a creature move in an otherworldly fashion. The storytelling is great, as you have a narrator telling you what he believes is real in this world and it is not something that anyone should believe, because it is not real. The grief that the old Cole feels in looking for his sister is seen and heard as the story plays on, but the smile on Emily’s face when walking with the strange man may be what kills him the most inside. I must admit that I will want to do some more reading into the Slenderman legend when I get some time, but until then, this story will help tide anyone over looking to get their fix. Stay Scared.

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