Cloaked Figure Stirs Fear in NYC: Marketing Stunt or Genuine Threat?
A figure draped in a long black cloak and wielding a gleaming hook has been causing quite a stir across New York City, leaving residents both terrified and intrigued.
In what appears to be an innovative advertising strategy for the latest installment of the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” franchise, this eerie character has been spotted from Coney Island to Manhattan, creating a buzz on social media.
Videos circulating online show the figure, reminiscent of the 1997 slasher film's antagonist, lurking in various locations. The film premiered on July 18, and the promotional tactics seem to be working, as fear grips the city.
One particularly unsettling clip captures the cloaked figure stealthily approaching a group of nine teenage boys on the South Street Seaport boardwalk just before 11 p.m. The teens, alerted by one of their own who spotted the menacing glint of the hook, fled in panic.
Just fifteen minutes later, another video from Chelsea’s Highline shows a woman glancing nervously over her shoulder at the same figure, who was trailing her closely before she too took off running.
The figure reappeared the following day on Coney Island, startling three individuals who quickly ran away, arms flailing in fright. Daylight did not deter this shadowy presence; footage captured him lurking behind an unsuspecting woman in Battery Park on July 11, while nearby street vendors remained oblivious to the unfolding drama.
Even aboard the Staten Island Ferry, the cloaked figure was spotted among passengers, further fueling speculation about whether this is merely an elaborate marketing ploy for the film starring Madelyn Cline, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Despite numerous inquiries, Sony Pictures has yet to comment on the situation, leaving many to wonder if this chilling spectacle is part of a clever campaign or something more sinister.
