Marble Hornets

Firstly I was largely unaware of the Slenderman mythos before starting this series but this did not effect my enjoyment at all.

Marble Hornets is a well made web series that does a great job of slowly ratcheting up the mystery as the series progresses. I think that series really starts off strong, with short but interesting entries and the perfect use of real life locations.

Unfortunately it does lose it's way a little as the series progresses due to the entries becoming unnecessarily long with large sections of characters walking around buildings/fields with nothing happening. These entries could have been edited down significantly and it would have given the series better pacing. The one caveat to this is that I started watching after the series had ended so I did not have to wait in-between entries for the next one to be released.

The ending is well done which actually came as a nice surprise and it wrapped everything up well.

Marble Hornets is well worth your time but just be prepared to slog through some of the longer entries.

Marble Hornets is an online found footage series spanning two YouTube Channels and a Twitter Account as it follows Jay, piecing together the raw footage of his friend Alex's cancelled film, Marble Hornets, in order to find his missing friends...

The less you know about the series when going in, the more scary and exciting it is. I am writing this while it has just started its 3rd and final season. So far, it is very intriguing, atmospheric and terrifying and for any fan of horror or found footage. The threat introduced in the very beginning of the series is not only visually scary but its vibes are found everywhere in the series. If there is anything worth watching online, this is it.

Marble Hornets Season 1 and 2 is available on DVD!

A long-running web-series, "Marble Hornets" is something of an odd beast. On one hand, it's concept is great, and it's generally a well-executed example of the "found footage" sub-genre of horror.

On the other hand, I do find there to be many problems with the execution, holding it back from reaching the perfection it is capable of reaching.

But still, for fans of horror, this is definitely a must-see.

The series seems to predominately follow Jay, as he tries to solve the mystery of what happened to his friend Alex that caused him to seemingly lose his mind and withdraw from society. Told from a "found footage" perspective, the early episodes alternate between footage shot by Alex some time earlier that Jay is reviewing (during production of a student-film he was working on) and newer footage shot by Jay as he investigates the matter. Little does Jay know that the mystery of what happened may be linked to a twisted, possibly-supernatural figure known as "The Operator." (Based heavily on the "Slender Man" mythos from the internet.)

I'm quite torn by what to give the series for a score. As I said above, it's a series of strengths and weaknesses. And I fear that my decided on score of 7 may be misleadingly low, despite being a decent score. Because I do genuinely love the series. (Well, at least what I've seen so far.) And in terms of entertainment value, it's great for a free series.

I think the biggest strength of the series is atmosphere, and wonderful use of the "found footage" style. If you're in the correct mindset, this series will definitely creep you to the bone. While the quality might not be great, it comes across as generally "true to life", and there's a wonderful sense of pacing, build-up and payoff as the episodes continue. Technical aspects like composition are also well-handled. And I find the storyline incredibly intriguing, and definitely one that makes me want to continue watching.

That being said, I have some big issues. First, (and I hate to say this), the acting can be pretty bad at times. At least early on. It does rob some of the suspension-of-disbelief that is required for a "found footage" series. I also find the episodes to meander a bit too much. I feel like there is a lot of room and time that could be condensed and make for a more compelling experience. It can almost get boring here and there. Which makes it harder to want to sit through the episodes.

Thankfully, despite those weaknesses, I feel that the strengths make the series one that fans of horror (and especially "Slender Man" fans) certainly must at least try out. I think it's great fun. It has a good story. And it has some absolutely, positively spine-tingling scares.

I give it a pretty-good 7 out of 10. Frightening and fun, but not without its flaws.

I am a big fan of all things horror. Ever since I was a small child I've been watching, reading, and even creating horror. I've been so de-sensitized to it that absolutely NOTHING scares me anymore...except this film. Marble Hornets has got to be one of the scariest movies of all time. It is a low budget film, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth seeing. It definitely does it's job. The acting may not be "professional" and the camera isn't always focusing on the action, but that's, interestingly enough, a good thing for this film. I would recommend this film to any horror buff- maybe not people who are easily frightened, and DEFINITELY not small children (only for the reason that it would probably require therapy for them to get over their fear). I enjoyed (rather nervously) every minute of it. The best thing about it is that it isn't one of those "jump out and get you" types. Your fear stems from the paranoia you will most definitely feel throughout the entire film. You'll find yourself looking over your own shoulder countless times. A Definite MUST SEE!

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 ;)