I love horror as many of you know. Candyman is one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. I’m not going to reveal any spoilers in this post except to say that there is a lot of Black trauma in that film, which I think people should know going into it. In terms of plot and entertainment value I didn’t think it was quite as good as a Jordan Peele’s Us, but that bar is high. (Peele was one of the screenwriters and producers of Candyman.) It was still quite watchable, there were some excellent twists and I’m looking forward to writer/director Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, the sequel to Captain Marvel, out next year.
The good news is that Candyman was top at the box office this weekend. This makes it the first film directed by a Black woman to open at number one. It earned $20.4 million, which means that’s it going to be profitable since it cost about $25 million to make. We’ll surely get sequels, which I’ll also watch. Plus Yahya Abdul Mateen II is a bonafide leading man now. He just covered THR and we’re going to see a lot more of him. (Also he’s shirtless a few times in that movie!) Here’s more about the box office, from The Wrap:
Universal/MGM’s “Candyman” is leading the box office on this final August weekend, earning $9.1 million from 3,569 screens on Friday. The revival of the ’90s horror series is now estimated to earn a $20 million opening, beating pre-release projections for a $15 million start.
Directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Jordan Peele, “Candyman” has been well-received by critics and audiences with a B on CinemaScore, along with a 85% critics score and 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was produced on a reported $25 million budget.
I also wanted to talk about the lower audience than critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. I’m assuming this is because the movie can be hard to take. It’s devastating, but not in a way that feels emotionally manipulative like Hereditary. Some of the social commentary can seem heavy handed, but it’s truly affecting. Oh and the cinematography was incredible. There were scenes that were just so cleverly shot. The music was creepy as hell too. I understand why people are going to the movies for this, even if I had to leave the lights on afterwards. I swear I saw a bee in my bed.
photos credit: Universal pictures
I saw it yesterday! LOVED ITTTTTTTTTTT I want another lol
Saw it Saturday and friggin cheered when the end credits started rolling. This is a great movie. But I personally think it’s even better if you’ve recently watched the original. Like, you don’t have to have seen the original but it does enhance the experience.
I was really hoping to watch this at home. I might go after work today though. In one of my family units, a household of 6, one didn’t get vaccinated and now the whole house has covid. My cousin called off his wedding the day before (about 2 weeks ago) because he got covid. He was vaxed too. So I’m pretty paranoid right now. I really really want to see this movie though!
I’m surprised you said there is a lot of Black trauma in the movie. I read a few headlines (not the actual articles) saying that Nia DaCosta took care to not brutalize Black ppl in the film.
It’s very shocking but not shocking because it’s what actually happens in real life. If u watch the news you won’t be shocked.
Hi. I’m not understanding what you’re saying here.
Black trauma like “…what actually happens in real life”?
I LOVE horror movies but I’mma gonna have to take a pass on this one. Watching the news is already too much.
(heavy hearted though cuz’ Yayha is a yum-yum.)
Mimi, I think you are right on. The ending is literally ripped from the headlines. Also reminded me of the ending of Queen and Slim.
Steph I think Mimi means that the trauma is recounting Black trauma, it’s not seeing it on screen as much, which is sort of true although it has the typical gore. The shadow puppet scenes do show it.
It’s also hard to explain without spoiling the movie, you just have to see it to really understand what i mean. It’s a really powerful film.
The Black Trauma is about the history they’re continuing to live. This movie and the original are pretty pointed about that. In both movies white characters face the consequences of their actions due to supernatural forces. While the Black characters are constantly aware of real world oppression. These two movies are so goddamn brilliant. And I would guess that Jordan Peele having been a kid/teen when the first was released was influenced by it very young, given his own brilliance at socially relevant horror.
The true story that inspired Candyman is so sad. A mentally ill black woman named Ruthie May McCoy was murdered by a man who entered her apartment in the projects through her bathroom mirror. She called 911 and everything and was dismissed. The cops eventually found her body after a neighbor called them. Her killer was tried but found not guilty in court. The saddest part was not only did she not recieve help, but how she never got justice for her murder. There’s some great articles about it that go into more detail.
I found out about this when that tik tok saga went viral. For yall who haven’t seen it, a girl in nyc was looking to find it where a draft in her windowless bathroom was coming from. Eventually she realized it was coming from behind the mirror. She took off the mirror and found and abandoned apartment. In the thread on Twitter someone linked an article called “They Came in Their the Mirrors.” Ms. Ruthie’s story really is heart breaking.
Is it a total remake of the original Candyman (which I loved). Or something new just using the Candyman theme?
It is the successor to the first film. So the second and third are just tossed out, and this is literally the successor story to the first film. I loved it. I love the original, too, but this one was just such a great continuation.
Yeah, it’s straight up a sequel to the original. You can watch this one without seeing the original cuz they provide all the details necessary for the plot but definitely worth watching the original first.
Am I a horrible person for only being interested in the film because the guy in the first pic is smoking hot and has a ripped body? Nevermind, of course I am.
Whatever gets you out there supporting this movie is fine, but his smokin’ bod is also a running theme in the movie. Doesn’t go unnoticed by the other characters.
Oh man, I really want to see this. But adult me cannot handle true horror (unlike teen me). I may have to watch and prepare to not get much sleep for a week after. 🙂
I think I’m going to go to an early morning showing to see this. I have to see this! I didn’t read the above article out of fear of spoilers, lol.