Slender Man is haunting the new year with its first trailer.

Slender Man originated as an internet meme, with the lanky, faceless figure in a black suit rising to mainstream prominence after two 12-year-old girls lured a friend into the woods in Wisconsin and attempted to stab her to death, claiming they were committing the crime in Slender Man's name.

Sylvain White directs the film for Sony's Screen Gems.

Slender Man opens May 18.