Filmed in the poorer parts of Chicago where the events of Candyman take place, Bernard Rose’s film is a unique and great 1990s horror movie that is creepy due to how quiet many of it’s scenes are. Virginia Madsen is a young grad student who decides to write about the infamous urban legend of Candyman, only to discover too late that the monster is very real. Thus begins a spiral into madness and despair as she loses most of what she cares about. Xander Berkeley does a nice turn as her scumbag husband who betrays her as she finds herself in a walking nightmare.
Unlike other slasher films this one is well shot and directed. Like many horror films Candyman benefits from a great eerie score that helps set the mood. Tony Todd is perfect in the title role, operating as a demonic spirit. Although this film doesn’t touch heavily enough on social and political elements that it could have further explored it is still a wonderful addition to the horror genre. I loved the Hitchcock references midway through and the asylum scenes were freaky. Of course this film has sequels and it can’t resist a darkly funny spot of revenge near the end. I’ve never said Candyman five times in front of a mirror and I’m in no rush to do so. In this world sometimes one doesn’t tempt fate.
Down The Rabbit Hole 