Candyman (1992)

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers:

Clive Barker (story)
Bernard Rose (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

We Dare You To Say His Name Five Times!

Plot:

Helen Lyle is a student who decides to write a thesis about local legends and myths. She visits a part of the town...

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Sociologist | Dog Killed | Beating | One Word Title

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Virginia Madsen	...	Helen Lyle
Tony Todd	...	The Candyman / Daniel Robitaille
Xander Berkeley	...	Trevor Lyle
Kasi Lemmons	...	Bernadette 'Bernie' Walsh
Vanessa Williams	...	Anne-Marie McCoy
DeJuan Guy	...	Jake
Carolyn Lowery	...	Stacey
Barbara Alston	...	Henrietta Mosely
Sarina C. Grant	...	Kitty Culver
Michael Culkin	...	Professor Philip Purcell
Stanley DeSantis	...	Dr. Burke
Marianna Elliott	...	Clara
Ted Raimi	...	Billy
Ria Pavia	...	Monica
Mark Daniels	...	Student

Also Known As:

Clive Barker's Candyman (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and gore.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Sweden:15 | France:-16 | Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #31870)

Filming Locations:

Cabrini-Green Public Housing Projects, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

"Sweets to the Sweet" which is written on the walls in two areas of Cabrini Green is actually a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Candyman breaks the window to escape the psychiatrist's office at the hospital, there are shards of glass in the frame. In subsequent shots, when Helen goes to the window, all of the glass has been cleared.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Candyman: They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What's blood for, if not for shedding?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sweets to the Sweet: The Candyman Mythos (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE

The Candyman definitely can...

Being a horror movie buff, I have no idea how this little gem escaped me the first time around. I'd heard a lot about it, read about it, etc but wrote it off as "probably stupid" like most of the other horror movies I had so wanted to see. So, it wasn't until many years after the movie's release that I finally saw it. And boy am I glad I did!

Surprisingly, the acting is fabulous...especially for a horror movie. Each character portrayed fantastically so as to add to the movie, rather than detract. No one really went over the top or became TOO dramatic. Overall, each character was portrayed realistically.

As for the plot: absolutely wonderful premise playing on the Bloody Mary urban legend. Surprisingly, the movie delivers on aspects of believabilty. Of course we don't *really* expect Candyman to pop out of a mirror, but how many of us have started the "Bloody Mary" chant only to stop at the very last one, not daring to continue? Our fears lie behind what COULD happen and the possibility that maybe..just maybe it's all real. Candyman plays on that fear and takes us even further over the edge.

The movie rids itself of the typical cliches (white, undefeatable stalker chasing half naked twits) and allows itself to be an entirely enjoyable, CEREBRAL horror movie. At first we wonder if the Candyman is perhaps just a person pretending to be him, then we start to question Helen's own sanity...wondering perhaps if SHE isn't the "real Candyman". Eventually, the movie leads us to an ending that answers our questions but doesn't shove those answers down our throat. Candyman also does what very few horror movies are capable of: it succeeded in having a strong ending rather than fizzling out during the last 10-15 minutes.

The setting and atmosphere are top notch. Using Chicago and Cabrini Green as its stage was perfect...bringing into play racial issues without going over the top or getting "in your face" to the point of losing its focus. The music in Candyman adds a mysterious mood that matches the dark, dismal atmosphere of the lone apartments in Cabrini Green.

All in all on my horror movie scale, I give Candyman a 10. To me, it was purely artistic and absolutely enjoyable. I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone even slightly interested in horror movies.