1.07 Hook Man

Title	Hook Man
Episode #	Season 1, Episode 7
First aired	October 25, 2005
Directed by	David Jackson
Written by	John Shiban
On IMDB	Hookman
Outline	Sam and Dean investigate a series of supernatural deaths that appear to be morally driven.
Monster	Ghost
Timeline	5-6 days between March 8th - 22nd, 2006
Location(s)	Eastern Iowa University - Ankeny, Iowa
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Synopsis

Lori Sorenson is in a car parked in the woods on 9 Mile Road, making out with her boyfriend Rich when she hears a noise outside. Rich goes to investigate. When he disappears and Lori hears banging on the car roof, she gets out and finds Rich dead, hanging from a tree above the car.

Sam and Dean arrive in Ankeny, Iowa to investigate the case, intrigued because the witness, Lori reported that the attacker was invisible. At the fraternity house where Rich lived, they find out he was seeing Lori, who is the daughter of Reverend Sorenson.

They attend a service at he Reverend’s church, and speak to Lori. They think the story sounds like the Hook Man Legend, and go to the local library to research it. They find that in 1862 a preacher named Jacob Karns killed 13 prostitutes using the hook he wore in place of the hand he lost in an accident. He was later arrested and then executed.

That night the boys travel to 9 Mile Road, in search of the Hookman, but are discovered by the Sheriff.

The next morning, Lori wakes up in her dorm room to find her roommate Taylor dead and the words “ Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?” written in blood on the wall.

After being released by the Sheriff, Sam and Dean hear about Taylor’s murder, and search the dorm room, noting that there is a cross symbol drawn in the blood that they found in their research.

They also find other killings have occurred in the area, both times also by clergymen. The boys postulate that the spirit of Karns is latching onto the reverend’s repressed emotions and killing those he feels are immoral.

While Dean goes to find Karn’s grave, Sam goes to watch over Lori. They talk, and she shares with him that she has found out that her father is having an affair with a married woman.

Dean salts and burns Karns' corpse at the Old North Cemetery but it doesn't stop Jacob Karns reappearing and attacking Reverend Sorensen, witnessed by Sam and Lori.

The next day, Sam proposes that Jacob’s spirit has latched onto Lori, rather than her father. Sam and Dean are bemused that burning the corpse didn't stop Jacob, until they find out his hook wasn't buried with him, it was melted down and made into objects for the church.

They race gather all the silver from the Sorensen’s house and the church and start throwing all the silver objects into a furnace. Sam finds Lori in the church praying, and then the Hookman appears and attacks them. They finally realize that Lori is wearing a silver necklace made from the hook, and Dean races to throw it into the furnace while Sam holds off the Hookman. When the necklace melts the Hookman disappears.

Characters

• Dean Winchester
• Sam Winchester
• Lori Sorenson
• Jacob Karns
• Reverend Sorenson
• Taylor
• Rich

Definitions

• Hook Man Legend ^PoD
• Rock Salt/Rock Salt Gun ^PoD
• Avenging Angels ^PoD
• Aren't You Glad You Didn't Turn on the Lights? ^PoD
• Ozone ^PoD
• Ghosts
• Vengeful Spirits

Music

• "Higher Mathematics" by Split Habit ^{(S1Com, p. 49, claims the song is "Merry Go Round" by Split Habit)}

(plays at the beginning of the episode, when Lori's getting ready for her date)

• "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" by Quiet Riot

(plays when they're arriving at the fraternity house)

• "Noise" by Low Five

(plays when they meet Murf ("purple man") and question him about the death of the fraternity guy)

• "At Rest" by Leslie Pearson (Bruton Music)

(plays at the sermon for Lori's dead friend)

• "Royal Bethlehem" by Leslie Pearson (Bruton Music)

(plays while Sam and Dean do research at the library)

• "U Do 2 Me" by Paul Richards

(plays at the college party)

• "Peace of Mind" by Boston

(plays at the end of the episode, when Sam and Dean hit the road)

• "Dancing on a Wire" by Keygrip

(plays at the end of the episode, when Sam and Dean hit the road; Netflix Streaming version)

Quotes

Dean: Your half-caf, double vanilla latte is getting cold over here, Francis.

Sam: I kind of know what you’re going through. I saw someone... get hurt once. It’s something you don’t forget.

Trivia & References

Filming Location: British Columbia Institute of Technology Library

This is the first episode in which Rock Salt was considered a threat to supernatural demons/spirits. It was "invented" for Supernatural by writers Ron Milbauer and Terri Hughes Burton. Eric Kripke agreed it "...was the perfect combination of occult element - salt is a folkloric repellant of evil - and the blue-collar aspect of shotguns."^{S1Com, p. 47-48}

Back in 1977 rock salt and a rock salt shotgun were used in the Doctor Who episode "Image of the Fendahl" written by Chris Boucher. The rock salt was used to kill the psychokinetic fendahleen.
Doctor: "Sodium chloride. Obviously affects the conductivity, ruins the overall electrical balance, and prevents control of the localized disruption of the osmotic pressures."

Leela: "Salt kills it."

Doctor: "I just said that. Probably the origin of throwing it over your shoulder."

Kim Manners was asked to come in an work as a co-director on this episode, as the original director had troubles getting the "scare" across.^{S1Com, p.47}

This episode was originally set to air after 1.02 Wendigo. Eric Kripke originally thought it might have been beneficial to air an episode about such a "classic" urban legend early in the show's run. 1.04 Phantom Traveler was aired instead.

Dean: [to Sam] Nice job, Dr. Venkman.

Doctor Peter Venkman is the character played by Bill Murray in Ghostbusters.

Dean: Think we'll see a naked pillow fight?

National Lampoon's Animal House is a comedy about a frat house starring John Belushi, who gets to see some sorority girls in a naked pillow fight. Also involved were Ivan Retiman the producer and Harold Ramis a writer, as they were on Ghostbusters.

Dean: Saved your ass! Talked the sheriff down to a fine. Dude, I am Matlock.

Ben Matlock is an attorney played by Andy Griffith in the TV show Matlock.

"Eastern Iowa University" is a Fictional Location created by sci-fi author Stephen Bury. ^source

The Hookman's cross is a Jerusalem cross.

Sam: [to Dean] Maybe. Or, you know how a poltergeist can haunt a person instead of a place?

Jane McGregor, who plays Lori Sorenson, played Patricia Spiro in episode 4.18 "Gaslight" of the 1996 TV series Poltergeist: The Legacy.

Minutiae

Actress Christie Laing who plays Taylor, later appeared as the Crossroads Demon in 2.08 Crossroad Blues.

When Sam enters the church, looking for the object to which the murdering spirit is tied, he passes a bulletin board with the phrase "Reaping with Joy" on it.

Sides, Scripts & Transcripts

• 1.07 Hookman (transcript)

Promotion

• Episode Stills
• Episode Promo: 1.07 Hookman