HOOKMAN

ORIGIN: American folklore.

The urban legend of The Hookman is one of the most well-known stories in American folklore, gaining much popularity in the 1950s. 

It is a classic story often used to warn teenagers about the dangers of being alone in secluded areas, especially in the context of dating and "lovers' lanes."

The story usually begins with a young couple parked in a remote, wooded area for their privacy.

As they talk or engage in romantic activities, a news report comes on the car radio, warning that a dangerous escaped mental patient with a hook for a hand is on the loose. 

The couple laughs it off at first, but the girl soon becomes uneasy and insists to her boyfriend that they stop their 'play time' and leave. 

Reluctantly, the boy agrees, starts the car and drives away, feeling frustrated that their night was cut short.

Upon arriving home, the girl steps out of the car and screams. 

Dangling from the car door handle is a bloody hook. 

In some versions, the couple hears strange scratching sounds on the roof of the car before leaving, later discovering that it was the hook scraping against the vehicle.