Candyman (2021)

 After nearly a year and half of delays, we are finally getting Nia DaCosta’s (Little Woods) Candyman sequel and, let me tell you, it was worth the wait. The film is gorgeously shot, amazingly acted, and dreadfully tense. It was everything I hoped it would be.

Candyman was written by DaCosta, Jordan Peele (Us), and Win Rosenfeld (BlackKklansman) and was directed by DaCosta. Candyman was made on a budget of $25 million, made $22,001,750 upon opening, and has so far made $54,389,280 worldwide. It was released on August 27th, 2021 to positive reviews.

Set 30 years after the events of the first film, Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen) lives in Chicago with his girlfriend Brianna (Teyonah Parris, WandaVision). After he hears about the legend of Candyman (Tony Todd, Final Destination, and Michael Hargrove, Chicago P.D.) and Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen, Sideways) he creates an art piece surrounding the myth. After Candyman is summoned, a series of violent killings begin to threaten Anthony’s life and sanity.

As I said, it’s a great film. DaCosta’s direction is beautiful, using some of the same visual language from the original film but putting her own unique flair on it. The opening sequence, featuring upside down shots of Chicago skyscrapers, is a stunning way to open your film. Her mastery of the camera is remarkable, especially considering this is her sophomore feature. I haven’t seen Little Woods yet but it’s shot to the top of my list of films to check out, and I can’t wait on what she does with The Marvels (also featuring Parris, reprising her role as Monica Rambaeu).

Speaking of Parris, she and Adbul-Mateen are incredible. They have an easy chemistry early in the film that makes it all the more tragic as their relationship begins to crumble throughout the film. Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk) is excellent as William Burke, though his dark descent in the third act isn’t given quite enough room to breathe. In fact, the only complaint I have about the film is that the third act is really rushed, the film could use about another ten minutes to it’s 91 minute runtime so it can breathe a bit during the climax.

Regardless, it’s an excellent film and a worthy successor to the original. The film wasn’t exactly what I expected it to be, but it takes the franchise into a bold new direction. I’d welcome a follow up film from this team.

Rating: 4.5 razor-filled candies out of 5

Other Observations:

• Does the Dog Die? The death of the dog in the first film is referenced, but otherwise no.

• Harrison’s Favorite Scare: The death of the art critic. So cool.

• This film features a bi-racial Queer couple who not only survive, but are never targets of violence. I love that.

• I expected more Tony Todd, but I ended up loving how they used him. That ending sent chills down my spine.

Next Week: We’re sticking with Clive Barker and tackling the original Hellraiser.