Movie Breakdown: Candyman

Pre-Screening Stance:

The original Candyman from 1992 is a bold, creepy, weird film, and if this new one wasn’t directed by Nia DaCosta and produced/scripted by Jordan Peele, I’d be sure it had no chance to be as equally heady or good. Fortunately, it is, so I’m a believer heading into it.

Post-Screening Ramble:

First things first, I didn’t realize how much of a sequel that 2021’s Candyman would be to 1992’s. So, if you have never seen that film or just don’t remember it, I recommend giving it a whirl, as this Nia DaCosta-directed affair features a fair amount of callbacks to the original movie.

Secondly, Candyman (2021) is a great slice of horror. It’s structured like the one from 1992, in that a seemingly normal person (an artist named Anthony, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) becomes fascinated by the urban legend of Candyman, and then things just get progressively worse for them. The tone is similar to the original, too, with this being a film that’s not outright scary – it’s much more geared to send weird chills across you, and to put you in the sort of headspace that will have you wondering what your own anxieties may be capable of conjuring. Kudos to everyone involved here for making something that’s just as left of center as its predecessor, as the movie is all the better for it.

This really is a well made, smart film, and it’s loaded with a slew of creepy moments. I also think it greatly expands on the black folklore elements from the ’92 movie, which just further emphasizes how well crafted it is. You should definitely see Candyman when it hits theaters this Friday, August 27.

One Last Thought:

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is on a roll right now – he’s great in this and he recently excelled in The Trial Of The Chicago 7 and HBO Max’s Watchmen. I can’t wait to see what he does in The Matrix: Resurrections.

One More Last Thought:

You know, I feel like a hook would be one of the hardest things to murder someone with. It seems as though you’d frequently (and inconveniently) get yourself, well, hooked on the person you’re trying to eliminate. I think if I was going to go the route of attaching a weapon to an arm in which I had no hand, I’d choose a knife.