'Beware of the Slenderman' air date, latest news: HBO to debut 'Slenderman' documentary later this January

HBO has recently revealed the air date of their upcoming true crime documentary titled "Beware the Slenderman."

"Beware the Slenderman" delves into the real story behind the shocking news of two 12-year-old American girls who lured a friend into the Wisconsin woods only to stab her 19 times. The crime was allegedly committed in order to appease a faceless mythical entity, which gained popularity online, known as "Slenderman."

According to Coming Soon, "Beware the Slenderman" is a sobering documentary which examines how an urban myth could influence the impressionable minds of the youth and ultimately lead them to commit a deplorable act.

Directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky, the documentary covers all sides of the ongoing case, even gaining access to the two girls' family, courtroom testimony as well as interrogation room footage. It also features interviews with experts who attempted to explain the girls' mental state and put the Slenderman myth in context.

Experts who appear in the "Slenderman" documentary include digital folklorist Trevor J. Blank, Ph.D., evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, Ph.D., neurodevelopmental psychologist Abigail Baird, Ph.D., and psychologist Jacqueline Woolley, Ph.D., among others.

According to Comicbook, the film looks incredibly terrifying, and it may possibly be hard for some people to watch. Viewers are warned to expect an emotionally disturbing experience they won't easily forget should they choose to watch the documentary.

As stated in a press release, "Beware the Slenderman" will go beyond the horror of the crime committed and will explain how "adolescent isolation, mental health issues, and the nebulous reality of the internet" can form "a chilling mandate for two young girls" to deliberately commit a horrible act, knowing its disastrous consequences.

To reiterate, HBO's documentary "Beware the Slenderman" is scheduled to make its TV premiere on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary will also be made available on HBO NOW, HBO Go, HBO On Demand and other affiliate portals.

A trailer was also previously released back in November.