Candyman (1992)
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- Release Date: October 16, 1992
- Directed by: Bernard Rose
- Written by: Bernard Rose
- Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
- Series: Candyman
Before I write anything about the movie itself, I wanted to start this off with a little personal note. I first heard of Candyman not from the movie, but from the kids at my grade school lunch table who were telling each other to say his name in the mirror. I had no idea what was supposed to happen if I said it, but I tried it when I got home and got caught by my very confused Mom. Years later in middle school, she actually showed me the movie when it was on the Comcast On-Demand service. This has little to do with my thoughts on the movie itself, but I always enjoy telling people how I was first introduced to such a classic.
Candyman is based on Clive Barker's short story The Forbidden, which was featured in Books of Blood Volume 5. There are numerous differences between the two versions, but the basic gist of the story remains the same. The two biggest differences are the location of the film's setting, and the cultural commentary that is evoked by said setting. The short story takes place in Liverpool and tackles the theme of urban legends in a run-down inner city environment. The film adaptation moves the location to the Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago, and thus tackles not only the theme of urban legends, but also racial and social injustice in the Black community. Along with these changes, character motivations are greatly expanded in the film, and the character of the Candyman is given the backstory of being the son of a slave. This adds another layer to the film's commentary on race and trauma. While The Forbidden is a fantastic stand-out story on its own, I much prefer the film adaptation. The story walked so this film could run.
What instantly makes this film stand out from its contemporary peers is its haunting score by Philip Glass. It consists of a lot of piano melodies that are very beautiful yet ominous, and it has an edge of melancholy that makes you think of a broken music box at times. Combine that with other tracks that feature not only synthesizers but also synthesized vocals on a keyboard, it feels unlike any other horror score at the time. It's a perfect fit for a Gothic horror film about lost love and horrific tragedy, and I couldn't think of a more perfect soundtrack for this story.
Tony Todd's performance as the titular villain is one of my favorites of any classic horror film. His voice is deep, breathy and powerful. It makes the hair stand up on your neck, yet it's so enticing that you can't help but be drawn into every word he says. From his first line of "They will say that I have shed innocent blood", to the way he hums "Helen" to our main character, to even something as simple as his breathing as he stands quietly, he relishes every single word that is spoken. Tony Todd was 6'5", and his height combined with his body language on screen creates such a menacing figure. He never phoned in a single moment in this film, and despite the varying reactions of the film's sequels, I always thought he was fantastic in this role. He may not have as many appearances as other horror icons, but in this case, quality far outweighs quantity.
Candyman is a classic of 1990s horror. It has the reputation of being a slasher film, but I honestly view it as something more than that. It's a tragedy about injustice and lost love, and how horrific actions in the past can create legends that have ripple effects to this day. Regardless of if you want to label it as a slasher film or just a horror film, it's definitely one of the best of its decade, and stands unique among the other horror series of the time.