You’re probably aware with how this type of urban legend works if you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror at night and chanted “Bloody Mary” three times.
Basically, you scream out the entity’s name as many times as you like, and it materializes in front of you, only to kill you in a signature manner.
This is also true of the cult great film Candyman, which was released in 1992. Apart from being a fantastic slasher film, it was also regarded as a brilliant and beautiful commentary on the history of the United States and the prevalence of racial conflict.
Now, with the film’s rebirth set for later this month, it’ll be interesting to see where Jordan Peele, the current torchbearer, will take the legend.
The Original ‘Candyman’
Before the film, British author Clive Barker published a collection of short stories called Books of Blood. A blood-soaked urban legend set in Liverpool, England was the subject of one of the short stories, titled “The Forbidden.”
The story piqued British filmmaker Bernard Rose’s interest, and he quickly connected with the author through a mutual agent. Both appeared to be admirers of each other’s work and began talking about it.
This was exciting for Rose since he was confident that the picture would be full of social satire. Because the film was set in a run-down Black housing estate, it served as a metaphor for the marginalized community, with Candyman serving as an entity that kept the peace through fear.
Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) and Candyman: Day of the Dead (1996) were two more films made (1999). Candyman 2021 is a direct sequel to the 1992 film.
Jordan Peele’s Reboot of ‘Candyman’
Candyman is finally getting the sequel it deserves after over three decades. Peele is the filmmaker and writer of the film, which is noted for its clever humor and social satire. Peele is the genius behind highly acclaimed thrillers such as Get Out and Us, which blew reviewers and fans away. Given his history with the genre, it’s no surprise that he’ll be writing and producing the sequel in 2021. Peele, on the other hand, has his own set of reasons for making the sequel. Candyman, released in 1992, was one of his favorite films as a kid. He was 13 years old at the time, and a huge fan of the movie.
Prior to the 1992 slasher film Candyman, all of the killers in slasher films were white. As a result, when a young Peele saw a Black killer, he felt somehow represented. From the first watch, it had a big impact on him. He also thought casting a Black man in the role of the Candyman was “daring and therapeutic.” Similarly, he learned from the film that black people might be cast in horror films.
Peele gained to notoriety as a horror movie creator due to his inspiration from 1992’s Candyman. Nia DaCosta, Little Woods and The Marvels director, is directing the film alongside him.
Candyman 2021 was supposed to be released in June 2020, however it was postponed three times because to the COVID-19 epidemic. DaCosta was outspoken in his opposition to the film’s release on streaming platforms and premium video-on-demand. She claimed that the film is about people’s feeling of community and how it shapes them.
Furthermore, the stories provide a collective experience of pain, sorrow, joy, and triumph. As a result, she believed that these could only be realized in a social context, such as a theater.
As a result, Candyman will be released in theaters on August 27, 2021 in the United States. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo, Vanessa Estelle Williams, and Tony Todd are the film’s cast members. Todd’s role as the Candyman will be reprised.
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