The views expressed in this article belong to the reporter, and do not reflect the views held by Rockbridge County High School, the Prowler Staff, and its members.

“Candyman” was a horror movie released on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. The movie is rated R for bloody horror, violence, and language. I suggest not watching the film if blood or gore is not your cup of tea. “Candyman” is the sequel to the original movie of the same name. Tony Todd plays Daniel Robitaille aka the infamous killer, Candyman. The Candyman legend stems from people getting brutally murdered after saying “Candyman” five times in a mirror. I will not be spoiling any plot lines for the movie, in case anyone would like to watch it for themselves.

The film’s run time is 90 minutes. Right off the bat, I will say that the new “Candyman” film is worth seeing. However, for context, it is only enjoyable if you have watched the earlier “Candyman” movies. Without the proper backstory, the movie quickly becomes confusing. Many characters from the first movie return and old plot lines are brought back for resolution. And, of course, only original fans will be able to understand some of the motivations of some of the characters, especially Candyman’s. With this in mind, I urge you to watch the original “Candyman” in order to thoroughly enjoy the newest one. 

Now, moving onto the analysis of the cast. As an original “Candyman” fan, I am truly happy Tony Todd returned to his role as Candyman. He, once again, steals the show by a landslide. He is such an incredible actor who always captures the audience’s attention every time he appears on screen. The biggest reason this movie is such a success in my eyes is from Tony Todd’s spectacular acting prowess. The sheer amount of passion he puts into every single scene is amazing and I highly suggest watching this film just for his acting alone. 

Of course, I do have criticism for this movie. It uses far too much graphic violence and gore at times. This is not just a problem with “Candyman,” but with most modern horror films. Modern day horror films solely rely on jumpscares and excessive amounts of bloody violence to make the film “scary.” In my mind, a horror film should build suspense and dread within the viewer. Horror movies need to have scenes that have characters on the edge of their seats. Candyman does this very poorly, as it never truly gets suspenseful. It is simply violent, bloody, and a bad way to induce “fear” into the viewer.

That is it for my review on “Candyman.” Hopefully, you go watch this amazing film for yourself, as well as the first “Candyman.” I truly do love this movie franchise and I am glad that the newest movie is bringing in more fans. Now, go out there and watch Candyman!”