Creepypasta has existed since roughly 2008, and the term is defined as paranormal and "creepy" horror fiction. Despite existing for 23 years, the only notable creepypasta presence in mainstream media takes the form of Sylvain White's Slender Man, which was released in 2008 -- 10 years after creepypasta was first introduced.
Other notable creepypasta tales have provided the inspiration for novels and short films but nothing concrete in terms of feature-length narratives. Even the most well-known creepypasta has been confined to the Internet, allowing for missed opportunities to appeal to a widespread audience. Here are just a handful of creepypasta entries that deserve to follow in Slender Man's footsteps.
Smile Dog Delivers a Haunted Picture Tale
The exact origin of the Smile Dog (also known as smile.jpg) is unknown, but rumors have stated that it first appeared on the anonymous image-based bulletin board website known as '4chan' back in 2008. According to the legend, a supposedly haunted image (pictured above) gained the reputation for driving those who view it mad.
Reimagining the Smile Dog legend as a feature film could yield similar results to the aftermath of The Exorcist (1973). According to contemporary news reports, members of the audience fainted and cried during the film. If flying wires and cheap jump scares can terrify a whole generation, it seems plausible for a Smile Dog movie adaptation to be wildly popular, especially since its premise is so far-fetched that it must be true.
BEN Drowned Involves a Haunted Legend of Zelda Cartridge
Besides Slender Man, the twisted tale of BEN Drowned is perhaps the most widely-known creepypasta of them all. It was created by Alex Hall, also known as "Jadusable," and revolves around the 2000 Nintendo video game, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
As the story goes, Jadusable is plagued over the course of a single week by the presence of a seemingly omniscient being called BEN after acquiring a haunted Nintendo 64 video game cartridge of Majora's Mask. A mysterious cult known as The Moon Children, who worshipped the Moon by way of human sacrifice, had murdered BEN by drowning him. Presumably, BEN is a tortured soul trapped inside the Majora's Mask cartridge. First and foremost, BEN Drowned should receive a movie adaptation -- or even a feature-length trilogy -- based on the depth of its storyline alone. There is so much to unpack within the three-part web series that it could effortlessly span across hours of digital content.
Jeff The Killer Spotlights a Fictional Serial Killer
On par with Slender Man and BEN Drowned, Jeff The Killer is an iconic creepypasta that focuses on its titular villainous character, a teenage boy who loses his sanity and becomes a serial killer to satisfy his homicidal urges. From what is known about Jeff, he was left disfigured after being set on fire by a gang of bullies. It is said that Jeff's mind snapped shortly after. He stabbed his parents to death, and the commotion woke up his brother, Liu. As Jeff was about to plunge the knife into his body, he uttered his memorable phrase, "Go to sleep."
Almost every horror movie in existence features a serial killer, so depicting Jeff The Killer would be no more preposterous than bringing The Joker to life, which has proven to be a hugely demanding and globally successful feat.
The Expressionless Brings the Chills
Set in June 1972, The Expressionless refers to a woman that appeared in Cedar Senai hospital wearing nothing but a white, blood-covered gown. She resembled an inanimate object like a mannequin but possessed the dexterity and fluidity of a human being. She had a kitten clamped in her jaws. She pulled it out, tossed it aside and collapsed. Following some attempts at treatment, she fought the nursing staff at every turn. When the doctor arrived, he tried to sedate her.
She smiled, but her teeth were not that of a human but something more demonic. The doctor screamed and asked, "What in the hell are you?" She answered, "I... am... God." The lone survivor of the incident, a female doctor, recalls the last sighting as watching the nameless woman feast on the security guards one by one. She named her "The Expressionless."
If horror enthusiasts want a story to sink their teeth into, The Expressionless would provide plentiful scares and chills should it ever be adapted into a feature-length screenplay.
Sonic.EXE Combines Horror and a Video Game Icon
Sonic.EXE ruined the childhoods of all those who encountered its gory tale. Inspired by an edited screenshot of the character, Sonic.EXE is an eldritch entity taking on the form of Sonic the Hedgehog that sends out a haunted game disc featuring the creature killing the main Sonic characters. By witnessing the pre-programmed gameplay, it seals the doom of the player, eventually leading Sonic.EXE to rip out the soul of his victim and make them his slave.
Nothing is more disturbing than the face of SEGA becoming a soul-sucking demon. While Sonic.EXE will most certainly need to be rated R (for obvious reasons), the concept could unite Sonic The Hedgehog fans and horror enthusiasts alike.
The Russian Sleep Experiment Is a Well Known Story
The Russian Sleep Experiment became the basis for spawning countless novels and short stories and is considered by some to be the greatest creepypasta story of all time. It tells the tale of five test subjects being exposed to an experimental sleep-inhibiting stimulant in a Soviet-era scientific experiment, the results of which are comparable to cannibals or Wendigos.
If Supermassive Games' interactive video game, Until Dawn, can feature human-like creatures with an insatiable hunger for human flesh, then so can any self-respecting movie production company. With such a formidable reputation, it would be wasted potential to not make the most of this unsettling story.