Candyman (2021): Candyman Can

The original Candyman (1992) film was a staple of my childhood. As a kid, I didn't realize the cultural significance of the movie, but I knew that there was a lot going on in the world that felt... wrong. I just didn't realize how deeply racial injustice ran in America.

As I got older and watched the original film more, I started to get it. And I appreciated the filmmakers' efforts all the more. Of course, Tony Todd was an absolute standout in the titular role, and Virginia Madsen made the character of Helen seem so realistic.

When I heard that Jordan Peele would be taking part in a new Candyman movie, I experienced mixed emotions. Peele's work in horror has proven to be outstanding, but I didn't know much about Nia DaCosta as a director. Plus, I mean, it's Candyman. Would it be a straight remake? A re-envisioning? A sequel?

Luckily, we got a sequel - a detailed sequel that actually builds on the original film's excellent narrative.

You will see a few familiar faces, and the stories past and present intersect.

But, let me be totally honest, this is a slow-burner of a film. With an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, this new Candyman film is indeed divisive. Niela Orr from BuzzFeed News writes, "Viewers of the new Candyman movie get overblown discourse instead of genuine horror." However, Lea Anderson from Bitch Media states that "Instead of projecting the monster onto an outside other, that gaze is directed inward and outward simultaneously... Fear of the monster is fear of one's own tail, one's own reflection."

What is the general audience saying? Well, you get everything from a one-star "The entire movie was racially motivated, it had nothing to do with the plot in any sense, and the plot of the movie itself didn't make any sense, it wasn't scary at all, just gross" to a five-star "Dacosta's expert direction creates a tightly wound horror film that revitalizes a slasher franchise of old for a modern era, commenting on modern issues while maintain all of the horror that Clive Barker originally brought to the series."

I side mostly with the positive reviews.

Is this movie racially charged? Of course! The original was, too. I get the impression that a lot of the one-star reviews were written by people who never bothered to watch the original.

Yes, there is a slow wind-up to the conclusion.

No, you won't see an insane amount of gore. (Just go watch Terrifier if that's what you want. Art the Clown won't disappoint you.)

Yes, the cinematography is on-point.

Yes, you get more backstory.

What you get is a horror film that highlights the complexities of race in America today, turning our gaze inward. "Tell everyone" is the final line in the film. Candyman is eternal because racism is never-ending. Maybe, just maybe, the only way to fight injustice is through this type of dark vigilantism.

Say his name.