Release Date: August 27th, 2021
Length: 1H 31M
Genre: Horror, Thriller
MPAA: 14A
Candyman…Candyman…Candyman…Candyman… Yeah I’m not going to risk it and say his name again. I have been looking forward to this film for a while it seems. It was delayed out of last year due to the pandemic, so I waited patiently but it allowed me to watch the original film and get better acquainted with the series and review it – http://awmoviespot.com/2021/08/27/candyman-1992-review/ Needless to say after having the introduction I was really excited to see what a modernized take on this story would look like.
Candyman (2021) is a “spiritual sequel” to the original horror film that came out in 1992, that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighbourhood where the legend began.
Nia DaCosta is one of our writers and the director of this return to the urban legend. I’ve seen nothing else that she has made, but after seeing her talents in this movie, I’m very intrigued to see what she does next (She is actually directing The Marvels (2022) which is the sequel to Captain Marvel (2019). I’m intrigued to see her tackle a super hero, but I hope she doesn’t get just continue to make super hero films because she definitely has a natural talent for horror and we need more of these filmmakers making the genre that so many love. But I thought she did a really excellent job directing and writing. She took a story a lot of those familiar with the genre knew and was able to make a great sequel.
Jordan Peele was also a writer and an executive producer for the film. His filmography consists of Get Out (2017) and Us (2019). After winning the oscar for his screenplay for Get Out (2017) it really put him on the map, and on my radar to see everything he creates. Such a gifted talent, that I’m glad we have working in this genre because I think he really nails it and gives the genre a twist that has been needed for a while, most wouldn’t agree with that statement but his films are far from stale.
I think it would be intimidating to create a sequel to such an iconic horror villain. This is a film I’m happy to say does what a good sequel does especially so many years later. It takes the elements and the foundation of the original movie and is able to add its own twist and build upon that foundation to create something all their own and I felt like the writing team succeeded in that, much like in the vein of Halloween (2018).
The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony McCoy, and Teyonah Parris as Brianna Cartwright.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s filmography consists of The Greatest Showman (2017), Aquaman (2018), Us (2019), Watchmen {TV Series} (2019), and The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (2020). I honestly had no idea before I looked up his credentials on IMDB that this was the same guy from The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (2020). I thought he did a really good job in that movie, but I felt he really shined in this film. I thought much like Virginia Madsen’s character in the original 1992 film that he sold the part well. I felt like I was slowly watching a mad man just slowly succumbing to the chaos that he unfolded for himself.
Teyonah Parris’s filmography consists of Mad Men {TV Series} (2007-2015) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). I thought Parris did a nice job in this movie, and she had really good chemistry with Anthony.
I don’t want to be spoil anything about this movie as always so I’ll keep a lot of my comments brief.
I really liked the soundtrack to this film, it felt like the played homage to the original film, being hauntingly beautiful and melodic. It reminded me of the music from Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) so much so that I thought it was the same composter but after looking it up, the composers name is Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe. I immediately after the credits rolled added the soundtrack to my offline library on Tidal. Just excellent work.
I also really like how they utilized an almost stop motion paper effect in parts in the movie. It was super creepy but fascinating and I felt added a lot to the movie and gave it a lot more style.
This film is intense, and it makes you look around the screen every chance you get in hopes of catching something out of the corner of your eye that the sub-conscious thinks is out of place… or maybe you choose to not look around because you’re scare which is totally okay too. Every time they looked in a mirror I squirmed a little bit, and I think i’ll have some difficulty looking in the mirror for a few days now.
My major issues with the film was the pacing felt a bit all over the place for me, much like the original film. It was only 91 minutes, but there were parts where I felt it drag a bit and it just didn’t sit exactly right with me. I would be intrigued to see how that changes on a rewatch when it comes out on home video in a couple of months.
I will say that if you’re not a fan of the original film, that this new film won’t do much to change that.
I felt like they really did succeed in making a sequel to the original film. I don’t want to ruin anything on how they did it or the elements involved, but I will say that if you enjoyed the original film, I think you’ll be very satisfied with the results of the new film.
This film gets a 4/5 from me.
And yes I did try to complete this review without saying his name 5 times… I don’t think I was able to do that though.
It was nice to return to the theatre after all these months, and I hope that I can continue going and write some reviews.