Movie: "Candyman"
Year: 1992
Rated: R
Genre: Horror
Directed by: Bernard Rose
Writing credits: Clive Barker, Bernard Rose

Reviewer: -RoG-
Posted: 9/22/2009

Plot: A student visits some inner city housing projects to investigate an urban legend about a man called "Candyman" who will appear behind you and kill you if you say his name five times in front of a mirror.

Review: It seems like if we want a good scare with movies these days, we no longer can rely on going to the local theaters to watch a horror flick. No, we need to look to the films of yesteryear if we want to find something with more than just cgi gore. If that's the kind of horror movie you want, then allow me to suggest Candyman.

Candyman is a horror film based on a short story written by Clive Barker called "The Forbidden". Now I know when anybody says Barker's name, they immediately think of Hellraiser. That said, I think his greatest contribution to the world of horror is Candyman (even though Bernard Rose is the one who really brought it all to life).

It's a chilling tale based on an inner city urban myth in which a man appears to kill you whenever you say his name "Candyman" five times into a mirror. Virginia Madsen is fantastic as Helen Lyle, the leading heroine of the film, but it's Tony Todd who is really responsible for making it so memorable. His portrayal of Candyman is downright chilling at times. His deep, baritone voice is like that of a street poet from your worst nightmares, "The pain, I can assure you, will be exquisite. As for our deaths, there is nothing to fear. Our names will be written on a thousand walls. Our crimes told and retold by our faithful believers. We shall die together in front of their very eyes and give them something to be haunted by. Come with me and be immortal." When children hide underneath the covers from the "bogeyman", Tony Todd's voice is a likely candidate for what they're imagining he would sound like.

It's not just a chilling tale though, it's a well-crafted story about urban legends and personal sacrifice. Don't worry, there's still plenty of blood in the movie for you gorehounds, just know that this movie has far more substance than your average slasher as it's more of a horror-drama than anything.

Original, eerie, and perfectly cast... this is a movie that truly belongs in every horror collection. Sweets to the Sweet.

Overall rating:
(Scored on a 0.5 - 5 pickles rating: 0.5 being the worst and 5 being the best)