Chew into this creepy cult classic ‘Candyman’

The 90s gave us a series of refreshing horror treats, from the psychologically perplexing wit of “The Silence of the Lambs” to the satirical frights of “Scream” to the new age of uncomfortably grounded nature of “Blair Witch Project.” One title from this time period that has begun to receive more notoriety as of late is 1992’s “Candyman.”

The film tells the story of Helen Lyle, a Chicago graduate student studying a series of urban legends surrounding the infamous Candyman, a feared son of a slave who, after being murdered in the 19th century, returns to murder anyone who summons him. When Helen decides to play against powers out of her control, the vicious entity makes his return, turning her world upside down with his unique brand of terror.

“Candyman” is a film that practically screams dread from beginning to end. The film has a heavy tone that builds up appropriately and only continues to get more intense as the series of events continues to get ever darker. This tone translates perfectly to the look of the movie as well. While not especially grungy in its production design, director Bernard Rose finds a healthy balance between the realistic grit of lower-income city life and the fantastical qualities of a nightmare to craft a richly horrific atmosphere, as well as multiple chilling visuals that are sure to be etched into your mind long after watching. Much of the cinematography and editing aids in this balance, with creative choices made in both departments that never come off as overly showy while still maintaining the right amount of pacing and tightness to get you involved.

The performances also prove invaluable in crafting the film to be how it is. Virginia Madsen is easy to sympathize with as Helen Lyle. You truly feel the insanity and frustration her character must go through and want to see her succeed. Her arc ends up becoming rather tragic by the end and Madsen sells the anguish of this story line best she can. The true star of the show, as you can probably imagine, is the incredibly imposing Tony Todd as the titular character. Todd’s surprisingly subdued and quiet performance oozes the nightmarish creepiness that truly makes the character. This restraint ultimately creates a far more intense experience during the more aggressive moments the actor must portray, with a sense of unpredictability that makes for a great villain.

The film does contain some minor problems that keep it away from being quite as perfect as Todd’s performance, however. The ending, in particular, is a mixed bag. Following the intense finale, the film does a little more expanding on the world-building that proves to be intriguing in concept, but ultimately feels somewhat tacked on in its pacing. More than likely this was done as a way to open the door for sequels (which the film has two of) and doesn’t hurt the film all that badly, but does feel inorganic nonetheless.

At the end, “Candyman” is a great film that deserves a revisit. With its chilling atmosphere, a well-crafted premise and some exceptional performances, this is a horror film that truly deserves its genre title. So move away from any mirrors, keep bees out of the house and pop on this gory gem this Halloween season.