Candyman (1992)

Based on "The Forbidden" by Clive Barker, Candyman is a game-changing horror film, that deserves more celebration. Of Barker's adaptations, Candyman does deviate from its source material on a base level, but even the author conceded it did so in furthering the main message of the original novella. While the book is set in Ye Olde England, the film changes the setting to Cabrini Green in Chicago. This area was portrayed in the media as an irreparable hellscape with gang violence, drugs, and the dregs of society. In actuality, it was a housing project where its tenants were basically abandoned as it fell into disrepair. The situation was so bad that the first female mayor, Jane Margaret Byrne, moved there to make a political stance... only to leave three weeks later. Most of the changes from The Forbidden were conceived by writer/ director Bernard Rose (who actually makes a cameo in the film!). In subsequent interviews Barker has talked about those deviations and counseling Rose through the conception of the film. Barker gave Rose full confidence after being a fan of the director's earlier film, Paperhouse. The film stars Virginia Madsen as Helen Lyle, a graduate student desperate to cut her teeth and win the approval of her husband and his peers. Though Madsen appeared in other films like Dune and The Haunting, she has since said that she is most recognized for this film, and rightfully so. Lyle is accompanied by her colleague, Bernadette Walsh, played by Kasi Lemmons. Lemmons had a nice stint playing the sidekick to compulsively investigating white women, as she also appeared beside Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs. The titular Candyman is played by the towering Tony Todd. While Eddie Murphy was strongly considered for the role, the fact that he came with a trillion-dollar price tag and that he would need to borrow Gene Simmons' platform shoes gave Todd the edge in casting. Todd was an accomplished stage actor who was dedicated to adding to the backstory of his character, which is virtually nonexistent in the source material. In fact, the Candyman from the novella is described as having skim that is an unnatural/ jaundiced shade of yellow, an unruly red beard, rouged cheeks, blue lips, eyes like rubies, and a patchwork coat. We discuss the formation of the character and the somewhat unbelievable backstory of Candyman's iconic hook. We also discuss the racial themes in the film, which are still problematically topical in 2020! Lastly, we discuss what we hope for in the coming reboot/ remake/ spiritual successor, which is being produced by Jordan Peele. Where do you rank this film among the horror classics? What about Barker's adaptations like Hellraiser, Nightbreed, Rawhead Rex, Lords of Illusions, and The Midnight Meat Train? Be sure to let us know! The "Hidden Track" this week is Candyman by Blitzkid. Check them out on their reunion shows, appropriately dubbed the Escape the Grave Tour! https://www.facebook.com/BlitzkidOfficial/ ; https://open.spotify.com/artist/1u8qqOF2w0kgbg1QLXEXSJ If you ever have feedback or recommendations on future episodes, please let us know at [email protected]. You can always find us on our social media: Instagram, Twitter, Slasher App: @slasherspod Facebook: /slasherspod Reddit: u/slasherspod https://www.youtube.com/c/slasherspodcast Theme song is I wanna Die by Mini Meltdowns. https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZAk6lUDsaJj8EAhrhzZnh ; https://minimeltdowns.bandcamp.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices