Review of Candyman (1992) by Becca E — 15 Nov 2009
Beautiful, haunting score by Philip Glass.
Leave it to the brazen Brit, Clive Barkerâ??a writer famous for his Books of Blood and the supernatural story of adultery gone demonic, Hellraiserâ??to step up to the challenge of salvaging the genre. Rose, inspired by Barker's blueprints, went about crafting a brand-new monster, an enigmatic antihero born out of romance and racism, relegated to his position as a bogeyman. Rose gave the madman a hook for a hand (how "campfire tales"!) and a torturous death for a motiveâ??and thus, a new creature feature was unleashed.
One of the most compelling parts of the Candyman mythos, and the movie made from it, is the boldness of the back story, a tale of illicit love and lynch mob retribution that somehow makes more sense than many of the standard flesh-rendering foundations. Barker and Rose hit upon the right combination of corruptionsâ??the mingling of social stigma with individual fearâ??to create a perfect iconic beast. While it would later be mucked up in the unnecessary sequels, the lovelorn loneliness and desire for recognition makes Candyman one otherworldly killing machine with a streak of the compassionate.
This review of Candyman (1992) was written by Becca E on 15 Nov 2009.
Candyman has generally received positive reviews.
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