Candyman Review: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Delivers Hood Justice

For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; HBO’s Watchmen, Us) and his partner, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, The Photograph), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore the story of Candyman in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.

Candyman Trailer:

Candyman Video Review:

The Good:

Candyman is pretty conscious of the time gap between this film and its predecessor. I loved how this film took the time to refresh our memories since it has been almost 30 years since the original film debuted. The show puppet animation, along with the storytelling from different characters, were pretty effective in setting the tone of the film. It also eliminated the need of re-watching any of the previous movies. It was an added bonus to have the story be modernized in a much more relatable sense too.

With this updated mythos of the urban legend, it didn’t completely contradict the first film. Rather, it provided more substance that was previously lacking. Some of that substance centers on the theme of Black trauma. For those who don’t know, Black trauma is in reference to any collective violence or injustice cast upon Black people in general. This can include anything from slavery to police brutality and more. One of the themes is how Black trauma is generational and can be passed down. Candyman was effective in displaying the parallel between events of the past and how they connect to present day issues. Another theme that was intriguing to see was how the Black Trauma could manifest itself into the horror genre in unexpected ways. The end of the film especially taps into this with its interesting turn of events.

A lot of credit must also be given to the cast in Candyman. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was outstanding in his journey as “Anthony”. His performance stands out when we witness his character go through his internal struggles as an artist. Although I will say his decent into madness was a bit hard to watch with some of the more physically gory moments. His hand was utterly disgusting. (Props to the makeup department). Teyonah Parris was solid in her role, however, I think her character could’ve used a bit more attention given how the ending of the movie plays out. Colman Domingo was showing off how versatile he can be as his delivery in this film was also exceptional.

Lastly, Director Nia DaCosta did a fantastic job of giving us a unique, visual experience in Candyman. She didn’t rely on the tired old horror genre tactics like throwing in random, dumb jump-scares for a cheap rise. Many of the moments that were scary in the film were enhanced due to the pacing, lighting, and, most importantly, the cinematography. An example of that would be her brilliant use of showing the killings from various camera angles. One death came during a scene that was being zoomed out, and if you don’t pay attention, you may actually miss it. Another example would be the use of mirrors and reflections for the audience to witness the murders.  All of the creative killings DaCosta featured in Candyman will certainly have you think twice when you look into a mirror.

The Bad:

I think one of the weaker elements for Candyman would be in some of the writing. While the themes of addressing Black trauma and other situations were commendable, I didn’t think the execution followed through very well in the script. I appreciated the conversation about gentrification, for example, but the dialogue felt a bit more preachy than informative. I think there was a missed opportunity to include more subtext which would’ve added to the impact of the messaging in this film.

Of course, this may not be a bad thing for all audiences. It probably was intended for, and more effective with, audiences that have never lived in Black urban settings. Seeing as though I don’t fit that demographic, it simply didn’t land for me. I was surprised that we didn’t actually see the effects of gentrification rather than simply hearing about it from the characters.

In addition to that, the third act of the film felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. The sudden shift towards Teyonah Parris’ character made me realize how much more of her we should’ve seen earlier on. It almost felt a bit disjointed from the rest of the film. I appreciated the twist that was presented with a certain character, but the final outcome seemed a bit odd.

The Verdict:

Candyman was a thought provoking film that transforms Black trauma into a terrifying form of hood justice. This movie made me wish the original movie had been as conscious and self aware with its mythos. The way Director Nia DaCosta modernized this movie was both refreshing and worthwhile. This could’ve been a watered down horror, but she made it technically beautiful to watch.

Thankfully, this film was both a sequel and a reboot for the franchise. So the only film you may need to see beforehand would be the original Candyman (1992). I would certainly be interested in potential sequels just to see how this franchise could continue to push the envelope.  On one hand, as a horror fan, I wouldn’t say this movie will be giving me any nightmares anytime soon. It felt as though it had much more bark than bite. On the other hand, I’m STILL not saying this man’s name in any mirrors…ever. Anyway, Candyman is certainly worth the watch in theaters or where its available.

Director: Nia DaCosta
Writers: Jordan Peele & Win Rosenfeld and Nia DaCosta
Stars: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo
Candyman (2021) is in theaters now. Be sure to follow E-Man’s Movie Reviews on Facebook, Subscribe on YouTube, or follow me on Twitter/IG @EmansReviews for even more movie news and reviews!