BLST from the PAST: Revisiting Candyman (1992)
Bernard Rose directed Candyman, a truly gripping gothic supernatural horror film, starring Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons, and Vanessa E. Williams.
Grade: B+ (**** out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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Based on Clive Barker’s short story “The Forbidden”, the film follows a Chicago graduate student (played by Virginia Madsen, before she became a star), completing a thesis on urban legends and folklore.
This leads her to the legend of the “Candyman,” the ghost of an African-American artist and the son of a slave who was murdered in the 19th century for his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy white man.
The film originated after a chance meeting between Rose and Barker who recently completed his own film adaptation of Nightbreed (1990).
Rose expressed interest in Barker’s story “The Forbidden,” and Barker agreed to license the rights.
Where Barker’s story revolved around the British class system in contemporary Liverpool, Rose chose to refit the story to Cabrini-Green’s public housing development in Chicago, and instead focus on the themes of race and social class in the inner-city.
Helen Lyle believes she has found it in Cabrini-Green, where the legend of a hook-handed man reigns over the locals. She finds plenty to write about, including the story of the Candyman (Tony Todd), the boogeyman.
Candyman is defined by Todd’s scary, legendary performance as the ghostly killer. With his tall, imposing presence and velvety voice, Candyman works like a modern-day Dracula as he appears to slaughter those who utter his name five times.
After premiering at the Toronto Film Fest, Candyman was released on October 16, 1992 by TriStar Pictures and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.
The film received generally positive reviews and grossed over $25 million in the US, where it immediately became a classic of horror cinema.
Sequels
The 1992 original was followed by 3 sequels: Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995), Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999), and Candyman (2021), the latter set one year before the events of the third film.
End Notes:
Virginia Madsen would hit her stride a decade later in Alexander Payne’s 2004 dramedy, for which she would receive a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
Credits:
Directed by Bernard Rose
Screenplay by Bernard Rose, based on “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker
Produced by Steve Golin, Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Alan Poul
Cinematography Anthony B. Richmond
Edited by Dan Rae
Music by Philip Glass
Production companies: Propaganda Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release dates: Sept 11, 1992 (TIFF)l Oct 16, 1992 (US)
Running time: 101 minutes
Language English
Budget: 9 million
Box office $26 million
