PhD candidate Helen (Virginia Madsen) is doing research for her thesis on urban legends when she comes across the tale of the Candyman (Tony Todd), a hook-handed apparition that appears if you say his name five times in the mirror. She traces the stories to a serial killer who stalks the housing project of Cabrini-Green, preying unchecked in an area cops won't go. Undaunted, she investigates further, finding a small shrine of razor-bedecked candy amidst the graffiti and a neighbor (Vanessa Williams) to one of the victims. Helen dismisses the legends as fear-soaked folklore until she blacks out and wakes up branded a murderer and kidnapper. Now, the Candyman may be her only hope for redemption.
It's kind of a love story? Like, a toxic one, but still.
Candyman and Hellraiser are both based on Clive Barker stories and have a lot of similar points but Candyman resonated so much more for me. Maybe because it felt more like a seduction, like the Phantom of the Opera leading Christine through her naïveté. But with meat hooks instead of opera.
Anyway, it is a classic for a reason and holds up extremely well. It's currently streaming on Peacock.
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