'Slender Man' Movie 'Extremely Distasteful,' Says Father of Girl Who Stabbed Classmate

Sony’s “Slender Man” movie is “extremely distasteful” and is capitalizing on tragedy, says the father of one of the girls who stabbed their classmate in an attempt to please the fictional character.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Bill Weier, father of Anissa Weier, said he hopes local Wisconsin theaters won’t show the film when it is released in May.

“It’s absurd they want to make a movie like this,” Bill Weier said. “It’s popularizing a tragedy is what it’s doing. I’m not surprised but in my opinion it’s extremely distasteful. All we’re doing is extending the pain all three of these families have gone through.”

See Video: 'Slender Man' Movie Gets Creepy First Trailer

A spokesperson for Sony has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

The Slender Man (or “Slenderman”) meme first originated on the Something Awful message board in 2009, then became an internet sensation with users sharing horror stories featuring the character.

The meme became a real-life attempted murder case in 2014 when two Wisconsin girls stabbed one of their classmates as a sacrifice to the monster. According to the AP, Morgan Geyser and Weier lured Payton Leutner to a park in 2014, where Geyser stabbed her 19 times. The two said they believed they had to kill the classmate so they could become Slender Man’s servants and protect their own families. Leutner survived.

Also Read: Slender Man Stabbing Jury Finds Girl Who Took Part Mentally Ill

The case later became the subject of a 2017 HBO documentary “Beware the Slenderman” and inspired episodes of Syfy’s “Channel Zero” and NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU.”

“Slender Man” hits theaters May 18, 2018.

From Slenderman to Jeffrey Dahmer: 9 Notorious Wisconsin Violent Crimes (Photos)

Slenderman Stabbing

In May 2014, two 12-year-old Waukesha girls lured a classmate into the woods near their homes and stabbed her 19 times. The victim survived and was found by a passing cyclist. The perpetrators claimed they tried to kill the girl to impress Slenderman.
HBO
Jeffrey Dahmer Murders

Between 1978 and 1991, Milwaukee resident Jeffrey Dahmer is believed to have killed 17 young men. He kept body parts of his victims in his apartment and told police he had drilled holes into his victims head and poured acid into their brains in an attempt to create a subservient sex slave
WI Dept. of Corrections
Ed Gein Murders

Plainsfield resident Ed Gein was convicted of murdering two women as well as stealing womens' bodies from nearly a dozen fresh graves. Police found items in his home fashioned out of human bones and human skin upon his arrest. His crimes served as the inspiration for "Psycho" and "Silence of the Lambs."
AP
Teresa Halbach's Murder

In October 2005, photographer Teresa Halbach disappeared after visiting the home of Steven Avery. Avery, who had been released from prison after being falsely convicted of rape just two years prior, was tried and convicted of her murder along with his nephew, Brendan Dassey. The case became the subject of the Netflix documentary series "Making a Murderer."

Also Read: ‘Making a Murderer': What’s Changed for Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey Since Series Debut 1 Year Ago (Photos)
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Oak Creek Sikh Temple Shooting

On Aug. 5, 2012, a man entered a Sikh temple in Oak Creek and opened fire, killing six worshipers and wounding four others. The gunman later killed himself before police could take him alive.
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Chai Vang Shooting

On Nov. 21, 2004, a man living in Minnesota named Chai Vang was hunting in northern Wisconsin. He was approached by a group of men who told him he was hunting on private land. Exactly what happened next is unclear -- but in the end, Vang shot eight of the men, six of whom died.
WI Dept. of Corrections
Walter E. Ellis Murders

Walter E. Ellis was convicted in 2011 for a series of seven rapes and murders in the notorious Milwaukee North Side Strangler case.
WI Dept. of Corrections
Terry Ratzmann Shooting

In March 2005, Terry Ratzmann entered his church, the Living Church of God, with a handgun. He fired 22 rounds in total, killing seven people. Ratzmann was later found dead in a hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot.
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Tyler Peterson Shooting

In October 2007, 20-year-old sheriff's deputy Tyler Peterson entered an apartment where a homecoming party was taking place and opened fire, killing six people. He then killed himself.

Crandon High School

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Before you watch ”Beware the Slenderman“ on HBO, check out these other blood-chilling crimes from the Badger State

Slenderman Stabbing

In May 2014, two 12-year-old Waukesha girls lured a classmate into the woods near their homes and stabbed her 19 times. The victim survived and was found by a passing cyclist. The perpetrators claimed they tried to kill the girl to impress Slenderman.

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From Slenderman to Jeffrey Dahmer: 9 Notorious Wisconsin Violent Crimes (Photos)

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