Candyman (1992)

The Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster's myth.

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers:

Clive Barker (based on "The Forbidden" by), Bernard Rose

Stars:

Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Tony Todd

5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Marianna Elliott	...	Clara (as Marianna Eliott)
Ted Raimi	...	Billy
Ria Pavia	...	Monica
Mark Daniels	...	Student
Lisa Ann Poggi	...	Diane
Adam Philipson	...	Danny
Eric Edwards	...	Harold
Carolyn Lowery	...	Stacey
Barbara Alston	...	Henrietta Mosely

Storyline

Helen Lyle is a student who decides to write a thesis about local legends and myths. She visits a part of the town, where she learns about the legend of the Candyman, a one-armed man who appears when you say his name five times, in front of a mirror. Of course, Helen doesn't believe all this stuff, but the people of the area are really afraid. When she ignores their warnings and begins her investigation in the places that he is rumored to appear, a series of horrible murders begins. Could the legend be true?

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Plot Keywords:

legend | mirror | hook for a hand | urban legend | secret passage | 

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Taglines:

We Dare You To Say His Name Five Times!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and gore

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Todd tried to act as a "primeval boogeyman" without overacting the part, which was tricky to do. He worked with Bob Keen on the Candyman's look. Keen first had Todd wear a machine-controlled fake right arm, but found the movements of the arm too strict. Then, Keen came up with the idea of having Todd wear a hook to indicate the Candyman's supernatural being; he spent three hours making the hook. Todd then suggested the character to wear an eyepatch, but Keen rejected the idea.

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Goofs

When Stacey cuts her finger preparing dinner, we hear her "Ow" before her lips move.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Candyman: [Candyman narrating over the swarm of bees] They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What's blood for if not for shedding? With my hook for a hand, I'll split you from your groin to your gullet. I came for you.

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Alternate Versions

European version was cut by 12 minutes, the region 2 DVD restored it to 94 minutes from the original 86 minute version

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Connections

Referenced in Fraudulent (2015)

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Soundtracks

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE
(uncredited)
Written by Vangelis and Jon Anderson
Performed by Moodswings
Featuring the voice of Chrissie Hynde
Courtesy of Arista Records Inc. / BMG Eurodisc Ltd

User Reviews

ok, a little anticlimactic, so what?

Candyman is one of my all time favorite horror movies. It is genuinely scary, and it makes one have second thoughts when standing in front of a mirror.

What I particularly enjoyed about the movie is the multidimensional development of the plot at the sociological, psychological, and parapsychological level. The first scene of the movie presents in a nutshell the experience that the viewer is going to have, an experience so common (regarding urban legends) yet so distant.

The acting (esp. by Virginia Madsen) is superb. The setting could not be more perfect. The shaggy, derelict apartment buildings at Cabrini Green create the proper ambience for what is to follow.

Certainly the gory scenes are not very attractive, and in a way such explicit portrayal does not seem necessary, since the psychological suspense is the driving force of the movie. Also the ending is rather anticlimactic and overdrawn. Disappointing sequel....

Fun to watch with people who scare easily!

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clive Barker's Candyman

Filming Locations:

4222 Agnes Avenue, Studio City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,404,320, 18 October 1992

Gross USA:

$25,792,310

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,794,159

Company Credits

Production Co:

Candyman Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1