The Slender Man

Does the creepy mama’s eerie crawl send chills down your spine? Does the unsettling imagery from the slender man give you nightmares? These roles were played by someone who put their supernatural (or superhuman) powers to good use.

Javier Botet was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome at the age of six. Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects connective tissues. The condition causes the person to grow tall and thin with unusually long and disproportionate arms and legs. Javier grew up to be 6 feet 6 and just 120 pounds.

Marfan syndrome is a result of a mutation in the FBN1 gene, which is responsible for the production of fibrillin-1 proteins. Several fibrillin-1’s bind together to form threadlike filaments called microfibrils. The microfibrils constitute fibers that provide strength and flexibility to connective tissues.

In an interview with a website, Javier Botet recalls standing in front of the mirror and folding his arms and legs, making unusual shapes. Doing weird tricks using very creepy movements of arms and fingers had been his kind of hobby. Ever since Javier watched his first star wars, he fancied aliens. Young Botet dreamed of portraying monsters onscreen one day. He worked on pursuing his dream and made his debut as a monster in the 2005 horror movie ‘Beneath Still Waters’.

However, the condition comes with its associated complications. Depending on the severity, the mutant individual may suffer additional heart problems. Some also develop an abnormal accumulation of air in the chest cavity, which could lead to the collapse of lungs, a condition called spontaneous pneumothorax. In many cases, the individuals with Marfan syndrome are near-sighted. Cataract and glaucoma may also develop in mid-adulthood.

Javier Botet has undergone surgery five times so far. However, he used his condition to his advantage. 44-year old Botet has appeared in numerous movies, including the ‘Slender man’, ‘Mama’, ‘The conjuring 2’, ‘It chapter two’ and several other films. His acting has been labeled as ‘as good as CGIs’.