Candyman…Candyman…Candyman…Candyman…
Can you make it past four?
This movie rocks for lack of a simpler term. Based on Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden, Candyman transforms the Bloody Mary legend into a whole new tale of terror. Using the chant to summon Bloody Mary while looking in a mirror as inspiration, Barker weaves a tale of a vengeful spirit that can be summoned when chanting his name five times in the mirror. Once summoned, Candyman will arrive to murder the summoner using the hook that serves as his hand.
The movie stars Virginia Madsen as a graduate student working on her thesis with a friend on the cultures of urban legends. While researching she discovers that many of the tales surrounding this legend are based on actual murders that occurred not far from her home. On a dare, she and her friend chant his name in the mirror as a joke setting off a chain of events that weave legend, history and reality all into one, blurring the boundaries of what is real and what is only in the mind.
Virginia Madsen plays a marvelous role as the disbelieving Helen Lyle and Tony Todd strikes an imposing figure as the Candyman. Directed by Bernard Rose this movie is sure to have you checking the shadows in the room and make you fearful of what you say in the mirror. A definite win in my opinion and ranks as a must see before Halloween!
The technicals:
Candyman 1992
99 minutes
Director: Bernard Rose
Writer: Clive Barker (story), Bernard Rose
Starring: Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons
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