31 Days of Halloween: Candyman inspires discussion
There is a LOT of social commentary and crap people have dug out of the 1992 movie, Candyman. The story of Helen Lyle researching an urban myth has become linked to commentary on race, urban planning and more. I’m not sure if that was director Bernard Rose’s intention, but it’s laced with a lot of important themes and modern day issues, maybe not full on addressing them, though at least touching on them enough to spark discussion. This is the true amazing thing about this movie: we’re still talking about years later. Go look at all the websites and articles on these Candyman movies. Another thing is that the movie feels a part of our society somehow, whereas movies with Jason and Freddy and Michael do not, because they’re in the woods or in isolated surburbia, far away from the heart of our cities: the downtown urban center. The dangers of the downtown urban center are top of mind whenever visiting large cities like New York or London, and Candyman feels right at home amongst all the stories.
The true terror is having to look poverty right in the eye, instead of see it on the nightly news. This may be why the urban center is so frightening. Blight helps take this to another level in the 1992 movie, as Candyman is coming through mirrors to attack people. The walls of urban buildings in Cabrini Green are a reminder of the aribitrary bountries that mean nothing to Candyman, and he can move around almost at will.
It’s interesting how the “summoning” of Candyman is done in the movie, and this sort of danger-tugging may be a way of demonstrating that some characters think they’re above obvious danger and just foolish. After all, who would do such a thing if they knew the truth? If people are “silent”, is that an allusion to hiding crimes? Maybe it is better then to speak the danger and deal with the repercussions. You can see how even this scene can inspire more discussion about crime or race or more. The 2021 Candyman remake takes this allusion a step further into our modern day by using the opening attack scene on the candy man as a reminder about George Floyd for example. Both movies have the “victims” develop a sense of “agency” with people “…saying their name”, like we do on social media, but the movie never really addresses what would really happen if we brought real victims back, like George Floyd or Tamir Rice or anybody like that. What would they say? What would they do? The movie at least makes you think about it.
Overall, Candyman is a great horror movie. It has inspired endless discussion and continues to do so today, thanks to the remake (reimagining) by Jodan Peele, who refocuses the movie with characters more central to his ideas. With a little research, people have argued Candyman can represent police brutality, racial injustice, urban decay, or other urgent social issues. It’s interesting that a mirror was chosen as a vessel for the Candyman, and there are other clever visual things done in both movies which I think are really interesting. Last, it’s interesting to note that Candyman is not really the “willing” matyr we’re attributing all these lofty metaphors to, instead using the most urgent sense of agency to “get back” into society and “get back” at those who dare cross him or “say his name”. Really, Candyman is a suggestion that there IS a cycle of violance. Maybe he is suggesting we be a little more careful and a little more polite on social media.
