Shadow People: The Hatman

The Hat Man is a specific, infamous type of "shadow person." Unlike typical shadow figures, which are often described as fleeting, formless, or skittish, the Hat Man is characterized by his deliberate, unwavering presence.  
​Observers almost universally describe a tall, dark, solid silhouette—often 6 to 10 feet in height—wearing a wide-brimmed hat (a fedora or top hat) and frequently a long trench coat or cape. He does not "vanish" quickly when spotted. Instead, he is known for standing motionless in doorways, at the foot of a bed, or in the corner of a room, intently watching the sleeper. 

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:12

They say the brain has a fortress, but what happens when the gate gets stuck? When you're awake enough to see, but too asleep to move. Tonight we're talking about sleep paralysis, but not the clinical version. We're talking about the things that wait for the paralysis to happen. The shadow people, and specifically the one who wears the hat. You're awake. You can see the glow of your phone. You can hear the wind outside. But you can't move a single muscle. Most people call it sleep paralysis. Scientists call it a glitch. But crystal vants calls it a hesitation.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

He doesn't hide in the corners like the others. He stands right at the foot of the bed, just watching.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

This is the man in black. Don't go to sleep just yet.

SPEAKER_04 1:31

Why are thousands of people seeing the same man? Have you ever felt a weight on your chest in the middle of the night? It's not a dream, it's a sleep paralysis. But the terrifying part isn't the paralysis. It's the company you keep while you're stuck. Meet the Hat Man. He's been spotted in bedrooms across the globe. No face, no words, just presence. Before we begin, a word of caution. Tonight's episode of The Man in Black contains detailed accounts of sleep paralysis and night terrors. These descriptions are vivid and may be distressing to those who suffer from sleep disorders or anxiety. There is a phenomenon known as the frequency effect. Once you hear about the shadow people, you may start to notice them. Listener discretion is strongly advised, especially for those listening alone. This program is intended for a mature audience. The following accounts are based on real experiences. We discuss themes of isolation, paralysis, and perceived supernatural threats. We recommend you listen in a well-lit room. If at any point you feel weight on your chests or see movement in your peripheral, turn the volume down. Or don't. Once you invite the hat man in, a warning won't do much to get him out. You've been warned. The following is an enactment of an interview by a host named Ray with Crystal Vance, a young woman who's had the unfortunate chance of dealing with the shadow man, who visited her on occasion during the lonely dark nights of her room. Here is her story.

SPEAKER_03 3:38

Alright, welcome back, everyone. As you know, today's topic is sleep paralysis. We're here with a special guest, Crystal Vance. Crystal, thank you for joining us. You've been dealing with this phenomenon for three years. You told me it started with a heavy feeling. Can you expound upon that?

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Like someone was kneeling on my chest, Ray. At first I thought it was just stress. I'd wake up, I couldn't breathe, and I'd just stare at the ceiling for what felt like hours.

SPEAKER_03 4:06

Wow. And when did the visitors appear?

SPEAKER_01 4:10

About a month in. You see them out of the corner of your eye first. Just smears of darkness. They don't have faces. They're just absences of light.

SPEAKER_03 4:22

But then you saw him. You know, the the one they call the hat man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

He doesn't skitter. He's solid. It was always at 3 a.m. I wake up, my body stays behind. I'm a passenger in my own skin. Move your finger. Just one finger. The room gets cold. That's how I know. The shadows in the hallway start to bleed together. And then he steps into the frame of the bedroom door. He's seven feet tall, a long trench coat that doesn't rustle when he walks. And that hat. A wide-brimmed fedora perfectly steel. He has no eyes, but I know he's looking at me. He's feeding on how terrified I am.

SPEAKER_03 5:41

Crystal, some of the doctors say this is just a glitch in the rim cycle. A dream bleeding into reality.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

I wanted to believe that. I really did. Until I talked to my roommate.

SPEAKER_03 5:55

What happened?

SPEAKER_01 5:57

She's never had sleep paralysis in her life. But last Tuesday, she knocked on my door at 3 15 a.m. She was white as if she asked me, Crystal, why is there a tall man in a hat standing in the hallway outside your room?

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Crystal, before we let you go, you mentioned that your roommate saw him in the hallway. That was a week ago. Has he come back since?

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Not in the hallway.

SPEAKER_03 6:26

Where did he go?

SPEAKER_01 6:29

Last night I didn't have paralysis. I could move. I could breathe. I woke up, turned over to grab my water, and the indentation on the mattress next to me. Like someone was sitting there watching me sleep. He's not waiting for the quote glitch anymore, Ray. He's just here.

SPEAKER_02 6:58

Crystal, thank you for sharing your story. Please stay safe.

SPEAKER_04 7:05

We like to think of our bedrooms as sanctuaries, four walls, a locked door, and the safety of our blankets. We tell ourselves that the things we see in the dark are just a brain misfiring, a cocktail of carbon dioxide, and REM cycles. But science can't explain why thousands of people who have never met see the exact same man in the exact same hat. It can't explain why the shadows seem to linger long after the sun comes up. So as you head to your bed tonight, do me a favor. Take a look at the corners of your ceiling. Check the space behind your door. And if you wake up at 3 a.m. unable to move, don't fight it. Whatever you do, don't close your eyes. Because he's already seen you and he's been waiting a very long time for you to notice. Sleep tight, and whatever you do, don't look at the corner of the room. This was The Man in Black. Have a good night, if you can.