OK, Candyman has a very intriguing premise behind it. Apparently an urban legend abounds that this killer known as the Candyman will come behind you when you say his name five times and gut you with his hook. A grad student and friend investigate the legend and find some tangible evidence of his existence. From there on, we, as the audience, are treated to some plot twists involving Virginia Madsen(as the grad student)seeing Candyman - perhaps in reality that only she is privy to or in her dreams or in some other psychological state. What we do know is that murders take place and Madsen is involved somehow. My take on the film is a somewhat mixed one. As with much of Clive Barker's work(this film is based on his novel The Forbidden), I am always a step behind understanding what is exactly going on. Some viewers don't seem to mind that and even embrace it as some type of genius or something. I must confess I do not. Barker's story definitely has flair and there are many memorable scenes in the movie - many of which will make you take a good jump. Director Bernard Rose is a good director creating some truly innovative and evocative scenes. The Chicago tenements are treated with a most frightening realism. Tony Todd makes a scary bogeyman as he portrays the Candyman. And Madsen does a nice job(with a needless nude scene thrown in just in case you lose interest). But I just found the plot too far out there for me to really enjoy the film. Bees were filled in a toilet seat in a disgusting filthy restroom outside...why? I had lots more questions along that vein. The ending did not match the first three quarters of the film in terms of continuity or realism. The film has quite a following, and in large part I can see why - but just don't agree. For me Candyman is neither a good film nor a bad one. Just average.
Review of Candyman
