Candyman (Special Edition) DVD Review

by FuckEm

"If you look in the mirror and say his name five times, he will appear behind you breathing down your neck" ...
Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is preparing a thesis on urban legends when she stumbles upon the one about the Candyman (Tony Todd); a vengeful spirit who is said to haunt the Cabrini Green housing projects of Chicago.

I think this is one of, if not the best Horror film of the 1990's; and it sadly seems to be underrated. It's not often placed up there with other celebrated genre classics and it really should be. Because this film has all the requirements in spades - it's well written, mean-spirited, has a great score, good performances, and is quite disturbing.

Adapted from Clive Barker's short story The Forbidden in his Books of Blood collection brilliantly by writer/director Bernard Rose, this film had quite the impact on me as a youngster. It's one of the last films I can recall that truly scared me. After I first bought it, I didn't even want to look at the video box because I didn't even want to think about it. Of course like anything, once I saw it enough times I started to appreciate what a masterful work it was. Placed in an American setting, Rose combines the very real world threat of gang-related violence and the surreal threat of a supernatural force, to create a film with an uncompromising sense of dread.

Adding to that immensely, is the score provided by Phillip Glass. There have been quite a few classic piano-themed Horror scores over the decades from The Exorcist to Halloween and A Nightmare On Elm Street; but this one stands out to me as being as eloquent as it is horrifying. All throughout the film, there is an underlying beauty to the creepy score; which I think makes it all the more effective.

Candyman's central theme is urban legend, and the question of whether there is or isn't any truth to them. In that lies the part of the film that makes you think - is Candyman in this film real or is this an early example of the unreliable narrator? I have to admit that for the first several years of watching the film, I never saw the two distinct possibilities. I always interpreted the material as Candyman being real, but now I can see the other side of it as well. Though, I still choose to view it as him being real because I find the story that goes along with that in the film to be more compelling than simply Helen losing her mind. But, it's up to the individual viewer.

Also up to the viewer is whether or not this film is racist, as I've heard it occasionally accused of being. I think it's definitely dealing with some loaded subject matter especially relating to Candyman's backstory, but I don't think it sets out to be exploitative. To me, there is a difference between being racist and simply dealing with issues of race. I don't think the filmmakers were trying to cross any kind of offensive lines, but rather were trying to make a serious statement and use that to highlight this villain's tragic dimensions. I think it gives this film yet another layer, and while it may be an unsettling one, I've never considered it to be racist.

Maybe a few of the bit parts aren't the best, but I don't think there is a bad featured performance anywhere in the film. From some of the more supporting roles such as Bernadette (Kasi Lemmons) and Professor Purcell (Michael Culkin), to the more intrical ones of Candyman, Helen, and Trevor (Xander Berkley); they all deliver and serve their purpose well. Culkin is a great storyteller in the scene where he tells the Candyman legend to Helen and the audience; really capturing interest I think. Kasi Lemmons is good as Helen's University comrade and best friend who I think helps ground Helen a lot, and also serves a few times as the voice of the audience.

Xander does a good job as Trevor also, although the character is meant to be unlikable at times. But to me, it's done in such an unabashed way, that it almost becomes funny after a few viewings. We can't dislike Trevor here, as evident by him having his own place in our little Hall Of Fame of Horror moments. And then there are our stars - Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd. Proof that sometimes prior roles can be deceiving, I don't know if I would have beforehand bought Virginia in a role like this. Not that I don't think she is a good actress, not the case at all; but she had been presented very differently in things I had saw her in prior. But she comes through fine in portraying this very real, strong, smart woman. Her scenes with Tony are full of power.

All I can say about Tony Todd is that he was just perfect for the role of Candyman. He has a very menacing appearance due to his height and also has a rich voice that defined this character for me. When I think about Candyman, if I don't think of a hook or a mirror, I think of Tony's voice. I believe they might have added a slight echoing effect to it, but you'll realize when you see him interviewed or in another film that most of what you're hearing is actually him. Like Pinhead, the Candyman has a way of speaking that makes him seem very dignified. I think a lot of that comes right from the literary talents of Clive Barker.

Candyman is both a well-crafted and very effective Horror film that was spawned from a decade which is known as mostly a barren time for quality Horror and for self-referential genre films like Scream. If you haven't saw this film, please do. It's highly recommended viewing from the folks around here.


Directed by: Bernard Rose
Starring: Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkley, Kasi Lemmons
Released by: Columbia/Tri-Star

Special Features

• Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Bernard Rose, Author Clive Barker, Stars Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd and Kasi Lemmons, Producer Alan Poul
  
• Sweets To The Sweet: The Candyman Mythos Featurette
• Clive Barker: Raing Hell Featurette
• Bernard Rose Storyboards

FuckEm's Rating: