The Candyman Can
The long awaited horror-slasher sequel to the original 1992 Candyman film will release this Friday, August 27 and is exclusive to theaters only. Candyman is directed by Nia DaCosta (The Marvels) and co-written and co-produced by Jordan Peele (Get Out) and Win Rosenfeld (BlacKkKlansman). The sequel stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Teonah Parris, while Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams will make a comeback to reprise their roles from the 1992 film.
The events of 2021’s Candyman start about 30 years after the first Candyman film and set within the same town of Cabrini-Green, a now gentrified neighborhood transformed from the haunted projects located in the north side of Chicago. Anthony, a visual artist, moves into town with his girlfriend and learns about the urban legend of Helen Lyle, a white student who committed homicide in the 1990s. Those familiar with the original should already sense that something seems sus.
“Candyman is an exciting story to tell at any time period because it’s so perennial. The history of violence repeats itself in cycles and we collectively process trauma and grief through stories, so it felt like any time to tell the story of Candyman.” stated DaCosta.
There are few film genres that seem more fitting to be experienced in a theater, such as horror movies or action movies. To each their own, streaming is for sure a more comfortable option but it does not compare to the ambiance of a theater. Even better for horror movies, there is no pause button, and you can’t comfortably turn on the lights. There is a level of commitment involved, something that is missing from your living room couch.
Candyman will not be available on Netflix or HBO Max and will hold the theater exclusivity for at least 17 days, as Universal has a deal that allows its studio to release the film digitally after 17 days if it makes less than $50 million during its opening weekend. If the movie makes over $50 million during its opening weekend, the movie stays theater-exclusive for up to 31 days.
In the meantime, you can watch the first Candyman film on Peacock for free with ads, or you can rent or buy it on iTunes, Vudu, or YouTube. Now to prepare for the weekend, let’s all dare to look in the mirror and say his name five times fast.