The Tall Man Tapes

In the horror gameplay video "The Tall Man Tapes," the narrator, Jack, explores a found-footage style game set in the year 2000. The experience is framed through a series of VHS tapes that tell the story of a lookout tower operator encountering extraterrestrial forces. Jack, who has a stated fondness for lookout tower settings in horror, notes that the game’s aesthetic is heavily inspired by the "lo-fi" and "gritty" style of early 2000s YouTube horror titles. The journey begins with Tape 0, titled "The Station." This introductory segment places the player at a rural gas station called Sean’s Auto. Jack spends time soaking in the atmospheric details, such as the smell of WD-40 and the graininess of the visuals, which he describes as having a tangible "texture." While the station appears abandoned, the player encounters a man in a restroom who tells them to "leave me alone," accompanied by the eerie sound of "trumpets" in the distance. This tape serves as a prologue, establishing the isolation and the unsettling audio-visual tone that persists throughout the game. In Tape 1, "The Tower," the player travels to their new post at a lookout tower. Jack comments on the extreme visual filters, including chromatic aberration and a "bleached" contrast that makes discerning the environment difficult. To pass the time during the long walk through the woods, Jack shares a personal anecdote about a horse-riding experience in Los Angeles, comparing the tension of the game to his initial fear of horses. Upon reaching the tower, the player finds a note mentioning "Taff Power" and instructions to avoid a nearby monument, find campers, and report a "strange man" to headquarters. The tension escalates in Tape 2, "The Campsite." Exploring the surrounding forest, the player finds a discarded Bowie knife and signs of a struggle. The atmosphere shifts from peaceful bird chirps to unsettling "ghostly" sounds. Jack notes the presence of nuclear launch maps in the area, hinting at a broader conspiracy or military involvement. By Tape 3, "The Storm," the player is tasked with maintaining the tower during a heavy gale. This involves filling a generator and closing shutters. During the blackout, Jack hears clicking sounds and catches a glimpse of a figure in the background, confirming that the operator is being watched. Tapes 4 through 7 shift the focus toward explicit alien activity. The player discovers a massive monolith and a church-like structure, suggesting the presence of a cult that worships the "Tall Men." Jack observes a series of lights in the sky, which he compares to the famous "Phoenix Lights" UFO sightings. These lights eventually form patterns and interact with the environment, leading to a scene where a "burning bush" appears, blending biblical themes with alien technology. The player also finds strange, glowing fabric on the ground, further proving that the forest has been compromised by non-human entities. The climax of the game occurs in Tape 8, "The Tall Man." While attempting to return to their vehicle, the player spots the titular "Tall Man"—a massive, backlit figure standing on a ridge. The entity destroys the player’s small Jeep, effectively trapping them in the wilderness. Jack expresses genuine fear during this segment, noting the effective use of "hero lighting" to make the antagonist appear more imposing. The loss of the vehicle forces the player into a final, desperate escape on foot. The final segment, Tape 9, "Icarus," takes place under a bright moon. The lookout tower is seen burning in the distance, and the forest is now littered with the mangled bodies of cultists and rangers. The player is pursued by the "Tall Men," who are revealed to be creepy, bald, elderly-looking beings with eyes on the tops of their heads. Despite their frightening appearance, Jack realizes the creatures are physically slow and lack the ability to navigate complex terrain efficiently. By using rocks and trees to break their line of sight, the player manages to evade the entities in a tense game of cat-and-mouse. The game concludes with the player successfully running out the clock and surviving the encounter, though the ultimate fate of the character remains ambiguous. Jack concludes the video by praising the game’s atmospheric design and its tribute to classic alien films like "Signs," "War of the Worlds," and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He mentions the developer’s notes, which reveal that the game contains hidden collectible tapes that unlock secret levels, providing further lore for those willing to replay the experience. Jack reflects on the universal fear of the unknown, noting that while the "Tall Men" are slow, the psychological dread of being hunted in the dark is what makes the game successful.