Honestly, the concept of Folklore, in general, isn't a topic often broached on this forum. It'd be interesting to see the stories people in Imperial America or the peripheral breakaways would make up over the years.
The narrative makes sense. It gives these breakaway states a reason to preserve their independence against the evil Government. "Why are we separated from the Land of the Free?" "Because they're secretly being lead astray by literal demons from hell."
Faceless Men that look just like human beings sans the lack of a face seem to be a better choice than the silly tricolored version. Especially once the Republican tricolor ceases to have a negative association with the Faceless Men.
The Faceless Men should definitely have some weaknesses. Like stories where someone would've been doomed had it not been for the presence of X in the room or them shoving X into the fleshy void that the Faceless Man has instead of a face. Why? Because it makes sense that stories spread through word of mouth would include stuff like that.
You're definitely right on the portrayal as monsters being a logical outcome, and I could actually see it being virtually pushed as truth in order to try and create as much distance between the US Americans and the peoples in the breakaway states who were Americans often less than a generation before.
Also, I think your comparisons to the Men in Black and Slenderman work really well, and at least the later versions of the Faceless Men would probably be portrayed as a mix of the two.
For example, an opener for a movie or TV show on them could have two men in suits knocking on someone's front door being show from the back, keeping the perspective as a bit of talking through the door goes on. The two men imply some kind of legal action and/or force will be taken if the person doesn't open the door. Cut to the perspective of the person behind the door who then opens it to reveal two faceless men.
The narrative makes sense. It gives these breakaway states a reason to preserve their independence against the evil Government. "Why are we separated from the Land of the Free?" "Because they're secretly being lead astray by literal demons from hell."
Faceless Men that look just like human beings sans the lack of a face seem to be a better choice than the silly tricolored version. Especially once the Republican tricolor ceases to have a negative association with the Faceless Men.
The Faceless Men should definitely have some weaknesses. Like stories where someone would've been doomed had it not been for the presence of X in the room or them shoving X into the fleshy void that the Faceless Man has instead of a face. Why? Because it makes sense that stories spread through word of mouth would include stuff like that.