I mentioned in my video review of the remake that this one is about a folklore doctoral student.
Of course, we’ve all heard stories spread throughout our area about some evil entity that’s been known to haunt locals.
A shot of my serene little hometown.
Being scared is one of my favorite things in the world, yet what I love as much as hearing creepy urban legends is learning the true-life roots. In other words, the story that initially captivated people enough that it spread like wildfire and was embellished, like via a game of telephone, into something truly terrifying.
An awesome website to read about both scary stories and origins of scary stories.
In this movie even the origin of the folkloric tale is horrifying – maybe more so than Candyman’s current escapades. That is, unless you’re one of the people killed by him.
Wait, killed by him? Does that mean he’s real?
Our main character wants to find out. To do so she explores the impoverished ghetto of her city – the area that’s a breeding ground for fear due to all the violent crime brought on by poverty. That ties in to Candyman’s own background, as the black residents of the ghetto, like him, are descendants of slaves. He may have been born free, but to say the least that doesn’t mean people of his skin color got equal rights and justice. Is his way to deal with his trauma at all excusable, especially given he’s targeting fellow blacks?
Of course, that question still assumes he’s real, and the white heroine’s exploration into his myth is utterly captivating – and made more so by how it’s intertwined with her own struggles in her marriage.
Ravishing Virginia Madsen carried this film beautifully. I’m a big fan of hers and am still angry she didn’t win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Sideways. Not as angry as I am about Thomas Haden Church missing out on Best Supporting Actor and Paul Giamatti not even getting nominated for Best Actor*, but it’s still infuriating that, because Cate Blanchett had gotten robbed of Best Actress for Elizabeth thanks to the Goop bimbo, the Academy made it up to her by handing her an Oscar meant for Ms. Madsen. It’s particularly maddening considering Blanchett wound up winning Best Actress for Blue Jasmine years later, while Virgina Madsen will never get another role on par with the one in Sideways.
Sideways should have joined A Streetcar Named Desire and Network as the only movies with three acting Oscars. Instead it got none. Fucking Academy.
This is at least one another classic she was in though, and she was the star. Plus she let us see her boobs!
Not gonna put up a picture here because I want you to watch the movie.
Apparently Michael Madsen refuses to watch any movie with his sister naked.
I think he’s puking listening to our discussion.
Too bad he’s missing out on a doozy here.
Last year, for the first time, I decided to rank the scariest movies of all time. Every title on the list refers to the very first movie in that franchise.
1st is The Vanishing.
2nd, in a three-way tie, are Psycho, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
5th, in a four-way tie, are The Birds, The Exorcist, The Shining, and Carrie.
9th, in a two-way tie, are Paranormal Activity…and Candyman!
Bottom Line: Incredible (sorry Michael).
Questions? Comments? Feel free to write below.
*Damn those two stupid old men from Million Dollar Baby!
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