[Blu-ray Review] - Candyman (2021)

Let's make a Candyman (1992) sequel, and we'll call it Candyman! Hollywood has definitely run out of ideas - or at least titles. LOL!

Most horror fans would agree that 1992's Candyman, based on the short story "The Forbidden," by Clive Barker, is a '90s classic, though I cannot say the same for the sequels, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and Candyman: Day of the Dead, which fans seem to dislike. With every other horror franchise getting "reboot" sequels, it was no surprise when Universal Pictures announced a brand-new Candyman movie from Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us). I, like other fans, was under the impression that Peele would write and direct the film. Well, we were half right on theory. Jordan co-wrote the film with Nia DaCosta and Win Rosenfeld, with DaCosta (Little Woods, The Marvels) in the director's chair.  

Candyman (R; 91 minutes) was to debut in theaters in the summer of 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it got pushed back to September 25th, then to October 16th, and to August 27th, 2021. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released Candyman on Digital HD, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD earlier this month. 

Blu-ray Special Features include: 

• Alternate Ending
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Say My Name - Filmmakers and cast discuss how the horror at the center of Candyman is both timely and timeless, which is a tragedy in and of itself.
• Body Horror - We explore director Nia DaCosta's influences in the subgenre of body horror, and what Anthony's physical transformation means to the story.
• The Filmmaker's Eye: Nia DaCosta - Take a closer look at director Nia DaCosta, and how her singular voice and perspective were perfect to tell this story. 
• Terror in the Shadows - A behind-the-scenes look at how the analog shadow puppetry scenes were created and unpacking of why this ancient artistic medium was the most conceptually relevant for depicting the legends’ cycle of violence. 
• Candyman: The Impact of Black Horror - A roundtable discussion moderated by Colman Domingo about the nuanced relationship Black Americans have with Candyman, the horror genre, and the overall idea of monsters and victims.
• Painting Chaos - Filmmakers reveal how Anthony's artwork evolves throughout the film and how they strived for authenticity in recreating Chicago's vibrant art scene.
• The  Art Of Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - Composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe reveals some of the unconventional methodologies he used to create the unique and haunting soundscapes sounds of the film.

Final Thoughts

Many moviegoers have called the new Candyman a racist movie with a forced political message. I couldn't disagree more. The plot does involve racism, but so did the original 1992 film. Yes, some scenes mirror recent police shootings but never once did I feel like the writers had a political agenda in mind. Honestly, I don't understand why people are having a hissy fit. It's only a movie, folks.

Candyman is a direct sequel to the 1992 film that starred Tony Todd as Daniel Robitaille - the first Candyman. The 2021 film centers on struggling Chicago artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). He finds inspiration for his paintings after hearing the story of Helen Lyle, the graduate student who had investigated the Candyman legend in the 1992 film. She gave her life saving a baby from fire and became an urban legend. The tale has changed over the years, with Helen going on a killing spree and kidnapping a baby for a sacrifice ritual. Then Cabrini-Green residents saved the baby just before Helen sacrificed herself in a fire.  Anthony becomes obsessed with the Candyman legend and learns more from a Cabrini-Green resident - William "Billy" Burke (Coleman Domingo). Billy tells Anthony about Sherman Field, a man falsely accused of putting razor blades in candy during the 1970s and was later beaten to death by the police. If you say "Candyman" five times in front of a mirror, Sherman will return and kill you. Gruesome murders occur, and all of the victims are in some way linked to Anthony. He must unravel a dark secret from his past and attempt to stop the Candyman from consuming him.

Overall, Candyman is an intriguing follow-up to the '92 cult classic. It's not perfect, but it's different enough to stand out on its own while at the same time paying respect to the original. I do wish the movie was fifteen to twenty minutes longer. There's a twist with one character that comes out of nowhere with no setup whatsoever. Plus, it would have been nice if Tony Todd got more screentime than a blink-and-miss ending cameo. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the film.