Say His Name
SCORE: 88/100
****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****
REVIEW:
First off, can we get a round of applause for Nia Da Costa? She's the first black female director to have a film debut at the number one spot at the box office! That's an incredible achievement, and I'm happy to say that the film is great to match that achievement. I never thought I'd come out of a major Hollywood horror movie this satisfied, ever.
Da Costa brings a level of artistic flair to Candyman that I'd usually expect out of an A24 film like The Witch of The Green Knight. She's managed to create a horror film that feels as relevant now as it was when the original debuted in 1992. I particularly love the use of paper cutouts with light as it feels fresh and original. In addition, I feel that she and writer/producer Jordan Peele nail the tone and atmosphere, creating true suspense and terror as opposed to cheesy jump scares and other lazy ways of scaring the audience. It treats its audience like adults, not teenagers looking for a quick jump between make out sessions.
The cast of Candyman is also great, and adds a lot to the more mature themes presented in the film. Abdul-Mateen is a fantastic lead, and its great to see him doing so after being a side villain in Aquaman. Parris, who we know from WandaVision, is also great here, adding a level-headedness that is missing in most horror films. Stewart-Jarrett is fantastic as Parris' brother, adding comedic relief and the fourth wall jokes that work. Finally, Domingo is amazing in acting as our main source of exposition. His buttery smooth voice and creepy demeanor make him the standout for me for sure.
The scares in Candyman are atmospheric and tense, and done almost completely out of frame or in the background. It's smart, and provides a real sense of unease that most horror films today don't have. It deepens the sense of helplessness and tension when you're getting a background or side view of what's happening.
My biggest gripe with the film is its writing. I feel that the connections it has to make to the original Candyman hold it back, and the needless ways that it has to feel like a sequel and not a reimagining lessen its appeal slightly. I'd rather have seen a completely untethered and fresh retelling as opposed to a sequel. In addition, some of the jokes and events seem a little forced, but it's too minor of a complaint to really even dig into.
Finally, this film has a message that some may find too political. However, I think it's integral to the film and an important part of the Candyman lore, so it feels natural here. It's never overstated, at least not to me, and isn't being pushed in your face. Some viewers may be turned off by it, but if the last year or two is any indication, people don't like facing the truth.
Candyman is a fantastic horror movie, and will be one of only 3 horror movies that I will have bought and added to my film collection in my life. I can't state enough how fresh the film feels, and it's another film that's totally worth your time.
Conclusion: Candyman is incredibly effective due to its artistic qualities as much as its horror ones. While it does suffer from some writing issues, it's the most fun and engaging horror film from mainstream Hollywood in years.
Score: 88/100
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