Candyman (2021) - Lucas Gomolski

The 2021 Candyman, a remake that also functions as a sequel to the original 1992 film, follows a story about the main character, Anthony McCoy, as he dives deep into the figure known as Candyman and how he came about for his artwork. However, Anthony does not anticipate the path he could go down, leading to a descent of his sanity, as Candyman starts to become far more real than he would have ever imagined. Released in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, this film uses the infamous status of Candyman to discuss racial injustices, such as police brutality and gentrification.

Anthony's infected hand reaches out towards a mirror, as the notorious hook of Candyman's, swarming with bees, reaches back.

A stylized silhouette of Candyman that is shown while his story is told through shadow puppets.

Film's Significance

As stated before, Candyman (2021) uses the original story of Candyman as a vessel to discuss the racial issues of police brutality and gentrification. This film having been released only a year after the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, makes it that much more present and poignant to audiences, showing that this issue has and will continue should something not be done about it. The film uses a motif of mirrors, a motif tied to Candyman's lore, in order to enact a sense of reflection. It uses the phrase "Say His Name," both in order to draw ties to Candyman, the ritual to summon him surrounding saying his name five times into a mirror, as well as to tie it to a common chant and call to order to remember the victims of police brutality, saying their names so they can't be forgotten. Candyman shapes and reforms its original source material to become a display of Black resilience and stir change in society.

Discussion Questions:

In the trailer and throughout the movie, bees are shown to be heavily associated with Candyman. What symbolism or meaning could bees hold that would make this motif significant?

The trailer utilizes Destiny Child's Say My Name, yet slows it down to fit the theme of a horror movie. What is the significance of using a song like Say My Name, a pop song, as opposed to classical music or something more befitting stereotypes of a horror movie's soundtrack?

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