If you were around the internet at any point in 2017, you probably came across the creepy ghost story of Dear David. New York City–based illustrator Adam Ellis, who used to work for Buzzfeed, had a Twitter thread that exploded in popularity because he claimed to be followed by the ghost of a child.
And the ghost child was apparently trying to kill him.
In August 2017, Adam tweeted one line that opened up a really creepy thread and had us all worried about this freaky ghost named Dear David.
“So, my apartment is currently being haunted by the ghost of a dead child and he’s trying to kill me,” Adam wrote at the time. And everyone was completely hooked.
According to Adam, he first saw the ghost during sleep paralysis, which isn’t new to him. He described the ghost as having “a huge misshapen head that was dented on one side,” and he saw the ghost sitting on a rocking chair at the end of his bed.
Adam described this ghost in great detail, and it freaked everyone out.
It didn’t take long for the Twitter thread to go viral. Adam added an illustration of what the ghost kid looked like. And the kid just stared at him, before moving toward Adam while he was in bed. He fully woke up, screaming.
Then a few nights later, he had another dream. This time of a girl at a library who asked if he had seen “Dear David.” This, it turns out, was the name of the ghost Adam saw a few nights earlier.
"He's dead. He only appears at midnight, and you can ask him two questions if you said 'Dear David' first,” the girl said to him, according to Adam. And she warned him never to ask Dear David a third question – “or he'll kill you."
Things went quiet after that, but Adam’s Twitter thread detailed what happened a few months later.
Adam moved to the apartment above where he was when he first saw David. It was just good timing, and a bigger place, but it didn’t stop David from appearing.
“For the past 4 nights, my cats gather at the front door at exactly midnight & just stare at it,” he tweeted, “almost like something is on the other side.”
People wanted more details but at the same time didn’t want any more details because it was scary. Adam was able to share so many details that made the supernatural events seem super real.
Then things got really weird.
Adam continued to document the paranormal things that happened in his apartment. There were the scared cats, blocked calls he would get from on his phone, and a chair that seemingly moved on its own.
And then Adam said he had photo proof of his encounter. And, whether real or not, it freaked everyone out. This doll kid looking thing in the shadows of his room looked just like the illustration Adam drew earlier.
The whole thread was terrifying. More than any horror movie.
And now, four years later, we’re getting a movie — a real one — that brings Adam’s paranormal experience to the screen.
According to Deadline, Lionsgate and BuzzFeed have commissioned the story of Dear David.
“Dear David is a terrifyingly creepy and sensational story that will translate perfectly to the big screen,” Lauren Bixby, vice president, co-productions & acquisitions for Lionsgate, said. “It hits our goal of reaching global Millennial and Gen Z audiences by elevating contemporary, authentic new voices.”
“Ellis’s story captivated audiences across the Internet and built a passionate, global fan base that has been waiting for the film adaptation. We can’t wait to bring this highly anticipated, harrowing tale to the big screen next year,” added Richard Alan Reid, head of global content and head of BuzzFeed Studios.
No details are available yet on when we can expect the movie to be released. But hopefully we’re brave enough to revisit this full tale when it does.
