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 & 7 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 | secret passage | ghetto | bee | 

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Taglines:

From The Chilling Imagination Of Clive Barker.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and gore

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)

Gross USA:

$25,792,310

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bees were bred specifically for this movie. They needed to make sure that the bees were only twelve hours old, so that they looked like mature bees, but their stinger wouldn't be powerful enough to do any real damage.

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Goofs

In order for 'Helen' to appear, someone has to say her name five times. At the end of the film, Trevor is heard saying it five times. Viewers may incorrectly thought he said it only four times, since the time gaps between his saying 'Helen' was quite large due to the interference of his crying scenes and Stacey's kitchen scenes.

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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

Although the versions shown on Channel 4 TV and released on UK VHS video were completely uncut all DVD releases (including the 2006 Collector's Edition) feature the pre-cut R-rated US print. This version edits the killing of the psychiatrist by Candyman and shortens scenes of blood spurting towards Helen's face.

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Connections

Referenced in Blood and Guts with Scott Ian: Gary Tunnicliffe Takes a Bite Out of Scott Ian (2012)

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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

Adult horror strikes back

Deeply disturbing, intelligently made and without a screaming teen in sight, 'Candyman' is one of the stand-out horror movies of the decade.

To just list all the elements that make this one of the classiest genre efforts of recent years would probably take up most of the thousand words I am allowed here. Suffice to say, it has a genuinely uncomfortable premise, uncompromising execution and a bone jarringly lonely score by Philip Glass. Tony Todd is exceptional as the hollow-voiced titular creature; a lost soul brought to life by the whispers of myth. At once heartbreaking and terrifying this could be the definitive latter day horror movie monster- if it wasn't just that little bit too close to Hellraiser's Pinhead. But, when you have a winning combination of elegance and disgust in a verbose, cultured villain, why alter it too much?

Virginia Madsen convinces totally as Helen; and you can almost see all the cast acting their little socks off so as not to let the side down. So good, in fact, that I'm struggling to find one bad thing to say about it.

I read here, that in the eyes of one viewer, it "dwells on the nastier things in life" and wasn't a "nice film". I can think of no greater compliment for a truly adult horror movie. No dear, you won't find happy teens in pastel t-shirts having slumber parties and discussing trendy scary movies, while some rap star tries to sell records on the soundtrack. This is a grown up film for grown up people. There is a reason horror films are for adults, and that reason is 'Candyman'.