This post originally appeared on Quora March 21, 2020.
For some people, yes, Candyman is a scary movie. Some people I know, to this day, will not say “Candyman” in a mirror five times for fear of what will happen to them. Typically these are people who are superstitious or quite silly (or perhaps both, I won’t judge them).
If you’re afraid of bees and bee stings, yes, you may find this to be a scary movie.
If you’re afraid of losing a child, you may find this to be a scary movie.
If you’re afraid of what could happen by calling on powers stronger and greater than yourself, you may find this to be a scary movie.
Candyman is a damn good movie that goes way beyond your run-of-the-mill horror film. Tony Todd’s performance is remarkable and he really makes that film work. But it’s more than just performances. The writing is tight, it hits upon pertinent themes of our society, and even the soundtrack is haunting.
It’s one of the most underrated films I’ve ever seen, and totally worth the watch if you haven’t had the pleasure.
Absolutely nothing. None of these beings exist. Also, in two of the legends, you need to invoke the names five times, not three.
When I was a little kid, I said “Bloody Mary” five times in the mirror and nothing happened. I knew nothing would happen because it was just a scary story.
Candyman is just a movie, and so is Beetlejuice. I was quite a bit older when Candyman came out and thought it was an amazing story and film. The film was even better than the story, in my opinion.
A friend dared me to say the name five times in the mirror. So I did. Slept really well after. Being able to differentiate between fantasy and reality enhanced my enjoyment of the film.
This post originally appeared on Quora March 24, 2020.
I am ridiculously excited for a retelling of Candyman. I was enthralled with the original film, enjoyed the story off of which it’s based, and now, it’s going to be redone in a fresh way by a master of horror.
The trailer was well done as usual for Peele’s work, and I am looking forward to seeing the film as soon as it comes out.
Some more thoughts on Candyman:
There is no limit to how many different ways you can tell and retell the Candyman legend. This is why I don’t think people should be getting upset and their panties in a twist about Peele’s retelling. He doesn’t need my permission to retell it. He doesn’t need anyone’s permission save for the owners of the character, and obviously he’s got it.
I’m a little disquiet about people complaining regarding the new Candyman.
It’s amazing to me that people were upset over this retelling. Why can’t everyone get to tell their story the way they want to? As a writer, I understand how important it is to have a platform for my work. Peele and other writers/content creators/artists deserve to have one, too. We can’t share? What the hell are you afraid of? Do you think they’ll tell their stories better than you can? Well, get over it.
Everyone deserves to have a voice. It’s good for the market when everyone gets a slice of the pie. Besides, people who get hooked on horror because of this will be more likely to consume more of it in multiple forms. Discovering one type of horror can lead to a love of all kinds of subgenre interest. It certainly did for me, for my spouse, and for many horror family members I’ve met.
So make room.