Rent Candyman (2021)

Disappointing overtly political sequel - Candyman review by Pork Chop Express

I heard a lot of good things about this Candyman sequel. I had really high hopes. But really it lacked Tony Todd's fine performance and to some degree Virginia Madsen as well (I just remember thinking that she was depicting this really bullish individual who had the courage to press on when any normal person would have turned back - and she sold it really well!) Although I do think the main victim / villian is actually a good actor.

I had no objection with the Candyman in the original being black or indeed the use of any black actors and actresses throughout any of the Candyman films. For me I don't choose to watch films based on the colour of any actors skin white or black or any other colour shade or ethnicity. It's very disappointing that I feel I have to write this to anyone who just actually wants to watch a good horror film and not a 100min political woke statement.

The political slant on racism against black people really gets in the way of developing any of the characters and confuses any scares or horror with overt political statements. I have never heard the term "gentrification" so many times in one movie - and to be honest as I've never really used that word myself in written or verbal form before, I am still not quite sure what it really means. But there you have it... using pontsy words against a backdrop of literal surrealistic arty depictions the tension and horror are lost on me really.

I re-watched the original again 3 months ago and this really is a poor relation.

Tony Todd should have featured more strongly and the central artist character and their body horror struggle would have actually been quite interesting (if not somewhat similar to 1986's The Fly). It's not something I would ever re-visit. Very Disappointed. You have been warned!

Get woke go broke - Candyman review by AB

Terrible film which rams woke politics from the 1st few frames, it ticks all the boxes, white people bad, black people oppressed & all (white) Police are corrupt or murderers!

subtitles - Candyman review by rm

what a pain in the arse this dvd is! can't make subtitles work! really annoying, don't bother if , like me, you have hearing problems 

OK Horror Sequel I suppose - Candyman review by GI

Reboot or sequel to the 1992 film about the urban bogeyman who can be summonsed forth by saying his name five times in a mirror and from whence he will dish out some bloody mayhem. I can hardly remember the '92 film so whilst this one has it's moments it failed to bring me anywhere near the edge of my seat. Clive Barker's original creation was set in Liverpool and designed to expose the bitter divide between rich and poor. Here we have a continuation of the theme but set in Chicago in a once run down slum area and now turned into a prestigious and wealthy neighbourhood. The film investigates the symptoms of bad housing and inequality and taps into the Black Lives Matter debates that are raging throughout the USA in particular. The story is of a young, up and coming artist, Anthony (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) who lives in a plush apartment in the very area where years before the Candyman murders occurred. When he hears about the legend it sparks a creative idea and he produces an artwork that challenges people to invoke the Candyman. Of course when they do gore and violence ensue. There's a strong element of satire at play here but somehow the film failed to convince me and as a horror story it felt a bit limp. I did wonder while watching it as to how long a pause you had to leave between saying his name four times before saying it the fifth before the Candyman decided it was a reset to number one!!

Strong themes, albeit slightly low on creepiness- but a success, nonetheless! - Candyman review by JL

For what it's worth, I really liked the BLM message interwoven throughout this film and felt it was really apposite as it sits so well with the original Candyman story- however, I do agree it's light on suspense for a horror, especially when compared to the original- and the touches such as the Phillip Glass score are much missed, despite it being revisited & reworked in the closing score.

I did really love the interspersed shadow puppety and the closing segments of this were very affecting. I think maybe the way that a lot of the set pieces were based in very modern and unatmospheric/sterile glossy glass fronted apaprtments somehow lessened the sense of atmosphere and foreboding that we may expect (or hope for) in a classic horror flick, but I appreciate that this was necessary to get the idea of the gentrification over.

So, although it's low on creepiness and atmosphere in comparison to the original, I suppose the real horror of this piece is in the overall (and very valid) message, and I for one reccomend it!

Fantastic follow-up to the original Candyman - Candyman review by giantrolo

Absolutely loved this film! It was such a great, well thought out sequel to the original Candyman. Fantastic performances, moody shots and a bit of a gore fest in parts, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Watchable Remake of 1992 Original Candyman - Candyman review by PV

Sadly, it seems more and more Hollywood movies are remakes, reboots, unoriginal, and that continues here.

I detest preachy woke propaganda sermonising as in so many new Hollywood movies BUT I did not find it too bad and just rolled it away with my eyes when it appeared.

I liked the shadow play imagery and the art theme in general.

Some bonkers plotting and barely credible mixing of reality and mystical woowoo.

Also just to point out, the idea of summoning someone by repeating their name in a mirror is actually common in European folklore of several countries regarding several mythical mystical ghostly figures - so in a way, this is cultural appropriation. Especially as modern mirrors are a European invention too (ancient China has polished bronze).

A passable horror film remake.