Plot: What’s it about?
The public housing project known as Cabrini Green is one of the most violent places in America, a haven for thugs, gangsters, and drug dealers. The project is also home to families and people who just need a break or two, but the violent element has take over Cabrini Green, as death is a regular visitor. The area has always had a high homicide rate, but a chain of murders that remains unsolved is unusual. Even the harshest of residents seem to be scared by these murders, amid talk of a local legend. This draws the attention of Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen), a student who wants to write her thesis on local urban legends. In Cabrini Green, the locals believe the recent murders are the work of Candyman, a former slave who returned from beyond the grave. If you stand in front of a mirror, say Candyman five times, then open your eyes, it is said he will appear behind you and tear you to shreds with his vicious hook. This intrigues Helen, since such a violent place has been calmed by the mere mention of this urban legend. She doesn’t believe in such things, but the situation offers her a chance to pen a dynamic thesis, so she ventures to Cabrini Green. When she arrives, she finds herself drawn into the legend, but with horrific results. Her friends have started to turn up dead, but is it Candyman behind the murders?
Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman…nope. I still can’t bring myself to mention his name five times, but I love to watch Candyman, Clive Barker’s urban terror tale that has a substantial fanbase. The urban aspect is crucial, as the setting allows Candyman to stand out from most other horror movies of this kind. No eerie, old mansions, broken down summer camps, or posh suburban backdrops, as Candyman takes place in the ‘hood. So in addition to the supernatural threats posed by Candyman himself, we’re forced to deal with street violence in a dangerous urban area, which can be just as lethal. The harsh street world lends itself well to horror cinema, as we have atmosphere that never falters. Even when Candyman is absent, the potential for gunfire, fist fights, and random violence maintain the tense environment. But life on the streets still isn’t as scary as the man himself, played with venomous glee by Tony Todd (Wishmaster, The Crow). Todd brings a dark charisma to Candyman, making him a step above the usual genre figureheads, though the sequels do dull the shine a little. The cast is better than in most horror movies too, with Virginia Madsen and Xander Berkeley in prominent roles. This is a must own movie for horror cinema buffs, especially in this new Special Edition release.
Video: How does it look?
Candyman is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I saw some grain in most scenes, as well as small nicks in some places, but these errors were minimal and never turned into distractions. The image has a good level of detail, with only a few scenes on the soft side, so the visuals are never held back in this treatment. The colors here are often muted, but that’s intentional and when needed, the hues take on a brighter, bolder presence. This movie has a lot of dark scenes, so its good news that the contrast looks good, to be sure. The black levels come off as smooth and well balanced, so murkiness is never a factor here. In the end, a more than solid treatment from Columbia here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround option is by no means electric, but it handles the material well and no real problems arise. The film is soaked in tension, so the audio often sneaks in to enhance that atmosphere, which creates even more tension. That means the eerie environment stays tight and tense, which is just what we needed in this case. The music adds some extra life to the experience also, while dialogue is clean and flawless. This movie isn’t all about dynamic presence and surround use, but the audio is still solid and effective. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A full house is on hand for the audio commentary track, as director Bernard Rose is joined by writer Clive Barker, producer Alan Poul, and stars Virginia Madsen, Kasi Lemmons, and of course, Tony Todd. The track is fragmented, as the sessions were separate, but there is a ton of great information inside this one. This disc also includes some of Rose’s storyboards, as well as two behind the scenes featurettes.
