Candyman (2021) — Movie Review
by KJ Proulx
The lore of Candyman is not something I’m very aware of or have any deep knowledge of. Simply going off what I know from the original property, I was intrigued by the trailers for this new version. After viewing the 2021 version of Candyman, I can confidently say that this is my absolute favourite way for a film to be remade. This is both a remake and a sequel if you really break it down. It continues the legacy of the first film, while also explaining it as if it’s just a history lesson throughout this film. When a remake can be different, build on the original, but also feel like its own film, to me that’s instantly a win. It also helped that the movie was well-made too. I can’t see a broad audience loving this one, but here’s why I believe it deserves some attention.
Playing as a loose sequel to the 1992 film, Candyman (2021) picks up in modern-day Chicago. Gentrification is a big part of this film and I felt that aspect worked really well. The legend of Candyman is not dead and this film begins with the promise that it’s not over yet. I was expecting some kind of generic slasher film, but it goes in a lot of directions I wasn’t expecting. On top of being surprising, I also loved the use of mirrors within the cinematography. It all felt very well-crafted and clever. With that said, as much as I enjoyed this movie, something also felt missing.
At a very short 90 minutes, the pacing of this film isn’t quick enough. There are many instances of slow motion and it almost felt like there was really only about an hour of story to tell here. I loved where the movie ended up and I would gladly watch a continuation, but by the time the film concludes, the overall trajectory of the movie as a whole just felt disappointing. That may sound contradictory, but it’s hard to explain it any other way. I personally found the film to be great while watching it, but upon looking back, it feels a little too simple for all the underlying messages throughout. This is one film that I feel could've benefitted from a slightly longer run time.
Getting back to the positives; I found the animations to explain the history of this legacy to be very unique. Yes, imagery like this has been used in this way before, but it really worked for the feel of Candyman (2021). Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony was fantastic and Teyonah Parris as Brianna played off his character brilliantly. I thought their dynamic, obviously until everything falls apart, was terrific. The visual storytelling and great characterizations are what sold this movie overall for me, even though I feel like it could’ve used a little more of everything.
In the end, Candyman (2021) won’t be looked at as a classic, but I honestly feel that is due to the fact that the screenplay, although well-written, went deep enough. Nia DaCosta’s direction here is also superb and his hand in writing, alongside Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, worked, for the most part. Again, looking back on my experience with this film, it’s almost more frustrating than anything else. I can confidently say that I liked it a lot, but I can’t help but feel that this was a bare-bones version of a much more interesting story. Overall, Candyman (2021) is a solid sequel/reimagining of the original 1992 feature and if you’re a fan of thrillers, I’d say give it a shot.
Rating: 3.5/5
Check out the trailer below:
