‘Candyman’ 2020 Style, Brings New Chills and Old Friends Back to the Big Screen
By Lisa D. DeNeal
Yep. My silly, possibly foolish self tweeted that name five times on a dare from the official Twitter page for a new rendition of the Clive Barker horror movie, ‘Candyman.’
Today, I, along with thousands of horror peers, received a tweet from the official page, and pretty much squealed with delight.
I love the trailer. Once again, there’s so much to see and people are picking up every piece.
The reboot targets gentrification with the gore, as Cabrini Green is physically gone and replaced by condos, but its spirit and deadly past remains. When a creative artist becomes enamored with the urban legend of Candyman, the body count begins.
The trailer gives us plenty of gems.
A group of high school girls — none are Black — chant the name in front of a row of mirrors in the girls restroom.
Vanessa A. Williams reprises her role as Anne-Marie McCoy in the original ‘Candyman’ (her clapping her hands to stop someone from saying that name, is hilarious in an, ‘I don’t blame you’ tone).
Tony Todd, who was Candyman in the original, can be seen in car window reflection. It is only fitting that he appears in the movie. How much is he invested in the film? We’ll have to wait until the movie’s opening day, June 12.
Jordan Peele once again chooses a popular R&B song and make it creepy for his film. With ‘Us’ he picked Luniz’s ‘I Got Five On It.’ This time, Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name” is creepy, drawn out and perfect.
Let me say this; I once thought that I wasn’t a fan of horror. Things that go bump in the night, I can do without. I will sleep with the lights on depending on the movie. But, over the years, and because of one close friend of mine who is an extreme fan of the genre, I came to appreciate a good horror movie. When the original ‘Candyman’ movie hit theaters in the early 90s, I checked it out and like many, vowed to never say, “Candyman” five times in front of a mirror. Just as I refuse to chant anything in front of a mirror, I damn sure wasn’t summoning actor Tony Todd for anything.
When word got out about a new ‘Candyman’ film coming to theaters and that Academy Award winner (Best Original Screenplay, ‘Get Out’) Jordan Peele (‘Get Out,’ ‘Us’ ‘The Twilight Zone’ reboot) was producing and writing it, I did pause. But through this trailer and reading interviews today, this is not a remake, but a continuation of the legendary killer who terrorized Chicago’s Cabrini Green projects.
This ‘Candyman’ is directed by a Black woman, Nia DaCosta, whose breakout film was, ‘Little Woods.’ DaCosta is not even 30 years old and her work as a filmmaker has made her a valued player. ‘Candyman’ is sure to put her on top. DaCosta wrote the ‘Candyman’ reboot screenplay with Peele and Win Rosenfield. Rosenfield is President of Peele’s Monkey Paw Productions and is a producer and writer. He is the executive producer of Lovecraft Country and The Hunt.
I’m already seeing postings of people refusing to see the ‘Candyman’ reboot, but I’m going to support it. Because a Black woman directed and co-wrote the screenplay. It’s a new Jordan Peele project and Peele is proving himself to jump into the club of horror and suspense filmmakers, producers and directors. Hitchcock, Barker, King, etc. He and DaCosta deserve to be supported.
