Anna Daniels
Candyman is a slasher flick about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand and an ax to grind. When the movie debuted in 1992, it delivered modest box office results but since then has developed a loyal cult following.
Now, Jordan Peele is producing a “spiritual sequel” to the horror flick, according to The Guardian. Some aspects of Peele’s Candyman will remain consistent with the original film, but the producer and his team will update the narrative and add unique details to the story. Keep reading to find out how.
Tony Todd is back
In Candyman (1992), Tony Todd brilliantly embodies the title character’s rage, bloodlust, and magnetism. The film depicts Candyman’s traumatic origin story and dares fans not to feel empathy for the man, despite fearing the monster.
Before becoming Candyman, Daniel Robitaille was an artist and the son of a slave living in America shortly after the Civil War. He and a white woman fell in love. When the woman’s father found out, he incited a mob to torture Robitaille, cut off his hand, and kill him. Robitaille’s story became an urban legend. According to the myth, he will appear as the vicious Candyman to anyone who looks in a mirror and says his name five times.
Solid source material and Todd’s performance helped the film win over critics and fans alike. Candyman is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with 75% on the Tomatometer. Todd, who speaks in a signature bass tone and, according to IMDb, stands 6’5” tall, will appear in this year’s Candyman sequel. He has starred in two other sequels since his 1992 introduction as the hook-handed slasher.
Both the theatrical release, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) and the straight-to-video Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999) underperformed critically and commercially compared to the original. But Todd remains popular with fans and his appeal bodes well for Candyman, which will hit theaters in June.
The ‘Candyman’ sequel will take place in Chicago
The first Candyman addresses socio-economic issues within the context of a horror film. It takes place in the Cabrini-Green public housing project near the North Side of Chicago. Cabrini-Green has since been demolished and Deadline reported that with the housing project closed, the Peele-produced sequel will take place in a redeveloped Chicago neighborhood.
Although much of Cabrini-Green is gone, a few remaining buildings remain boarded up. In an interview with NPR, location manager Nick Rafferty recalled visiting the grounds, which he called “haunted.” The NPR article goes on to say, “The film crew’s visit to Cabrini-Green changed the script from something very Hollywood to something better and truer.”
Jordan Peele’s ‘Candyman’ promises to frighten and enlighten
Regardless of the newly gentrified Chicago setting, Peele’s Candyman will likely follow suit with his other poignant work and give audiences something to chew on.
Peele has a knack for seamlessly integrating social issues into his films. But before tackling horror, the skilled improv comedian dished out laughs on his sketch comedy program Key and Peele. On the show, the jokes often included built-in commentary about hot-button issues.
After Key and Peele wrapped, Peele tried his hand at horror films and achieved instant critical and commercial success. He wrote, produced, and directed Get Out and Us, both of which simultaneously terrified fans and reflected deep societal issues. Now, Peele takes the role of writer and producer again, but this time relies on director Nia DaCosta to helm the film.
Peele’s Candyman is an ideal opportunity for the duo to both frighten and enlighten moviegoers. It hits theaters on June 12.
Written by: Cheat
