Directed by Nia DaCosta, Candyman is the direct sequel to the 1992 original and takes place in present day, years after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down. The story follows a visual artist named Anthony (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) who has moved into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini with his girlfriend (Teyonah Parris). He has a chance encounter with an old-timer (Colman Domingo) who gives Anthony the “true” and haunting story behind Candyman (Tony Todd), a supernatural killer that could be summoned by saying his name five times when looking in a mirror. Anxious to use these details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.
The original Candyman was a cultural phenomenon, a thoughtful and dreamlike film as well as a disturbing and terrifying supernatural slasher that contained a lot of subtle yet powerful social commentary and themes on race and class. It was the film that was also responsible for making legendary actor Tony Todd the horror icon he is today after playing the titular character. It was very different compared to most horrors at the time and was masterfully made, unlike its sequels that would end up taking the cheesy slasher approach as opposed to the deep and methodical take the first film had.
So when I heard that a revival in the form of a sequel/reboot was being made as part of the trend that Halloween (2018) started I was a bit skeptical, until I heard that Jordan Peele was both producer and writer for the film. And given the fact the first film has themes that Peele himself has covered in his own works, as well as delivering outstanding horrors in the process, I was majorly excited to see what he and director Nia DaCosta could do.
Together they crafted an amazing revival as well as an impactful and compelling modern horror. Incredible performances, a darkly twisted narrative with layered themes, and a gorgeous yet unnerving style. What more could I ask for? This is the Candyman sequel I have always wanted and had to wait so long to get, but boy was it worth it.
And if you are wondering if you need to see the first film to understand this one, the answer is yes, not only for important parts of the narrative but also to understand the thematic elements that make this film stand out compared to other slashers.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II delivers a perfect performance as Anthony who shares an interesting connection and obsession with Candyman, one that affects him both mentally and physically. And for those who have seen the first film you may already know who Anthony is and his connection to Candyman, but for those who may have not seen the first film I won’t go into detail due to spoilers. Anthony is a complicated yet engaging lead, fueled by Yahya’s incredible talent, and you can’t help but feel everything the character is going through.
Teyonah Parris as Brianna is equally perfect, having a marvelous performance as well as sharing great chemistry with Yahya. Her character has her own interesting arc in the film that makes her actually stand out on her own rather than be reduced to the simple love interest. Seeing what happens to her through the course of the film was interesting, especially when she gets dragged into the horror that Anthony brings forth.
Nathan Stewart-Jarret’s character, Troy, serves as the comedic relief of the film, and is very effective at lightening the mood. He is very funny, delivering great humor at the proper times, and never overstayed his welcome in the slightest. You could easily drag down a horror film with a character like this if used improperly but thankfully that was not the case. You can definitely tell this was one of the many contributions of Jordan Peele who always injects smart humor into his horrors in an effective manner.
I can’t go into too much detail on Colman Domingo’s character, but he was excellent as well and is utilized in an interesting way.
But the big one for me among all the cast is the return of Tony Todd, reprising the iconic role of the Candyman. Candyman is handled in such an interesting way and he comes in various forms in this film but whenever they hide his face or keep him in the shadows you know that it is Tony Todd. He brings such a terrifying presence any time he is on screen and is treated like a true mythological phantom that never gets overused or shown too much, as most horrors like to do nowadays. When we do get to see his face and hear that haunting voice of his, it was absolute perfection. I felt the way he is utilized and built up was very well done but I know that some people may be expecting something different and may feel disappointed.
The film is both a direct as well as a spiritual sequel to the 1992 original, expanding the story we know with effective horror with twisted turns,and it continues its powerful themes in a modern setting. DaCosta made this film stay true to its roots and fleshes out the original story, adding on twists of how the legend of Candyman can be interpreted in different ways by different people over the years. Some people consider him an evil entity while others may consider him a cursed victim. And sometimes there are others that consider him a savior.
There are a lot of new things added that still manage to respect the original in various ways, especially when it comes to the commentary and themes. All of it is handled perfectly, similar to the first film but since the film now takes place in a more modern setting the commentary on racial disparities feels more relevant and expanded on. This was what made the first film so unique and impactful, making it more than just some typical slasher horror. It can sometimes be a bit on the nose in some places but similar to Get Out and Us I thought it was handled really well here.
When it does go into a horror aspect it is masterful, having great suspense, brutality, and most importantly intelligence. Similar to horrors like The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and of course the first Candyman, this is a slow burn film that keeps you engaged all the way through with its atmosphere, tension, and themes that work hand in hand with the horror that hugely entertains and will scare the shit out of you. There is so much in this film that really makes your skin crawl thanks to DaCosta’s powerhouse directing and Peele’s fantastic writing, giving great thrills and payoffs. This includes the ending, which after a great build-up goes all out and hits hard, as well as leaving certain things open up to interpretation.
The film looks absolutely gorgeous, featuring stellar cinematography that adds to the suspense and atmosphere of the film. DaCosta knew exactly what to do behind the camera to get the audience absorbed into everything on screen, especially with the use of simple sets both interior and exterior. The use of lighting, shadows, and color add to the creep factor, and the film’s beauty, style, and dream-like qualities are similar to the original but I feel might have been done even better here.
The musical score is fantastic and chilling right down to the bone, and I absolutely loved the reprisal of Helen’s theme from the first film, which is used effectively in certain scenes.
Nia DaCosta absolutely knocked it out of the park with this film and deserves serious credit, alongside everyone else involved in making this film. There is a lot more this film can offer upon rewatching and I definitely believe I will rewatching this film multiple times and love it even more. For those who have been waiting for a true sequel to Candyman that not only captures what made the first film impactful but also improves and expands upon it in a modern setting, you don’t have to wait any longer. I’m going to give Candyman an A.
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