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?

Comments

Everything, Everything - Ellie Marmoll

The film Everything, Everything , based on the novel by Nicola Yoon , follows the life of newly eighteen-year-old Madeline living with a rare autoimmune dis ease that prevents her from leaving the protection of her sealed home in which she is iso lated from the outside world. Maddy is extremely imaginative, especially when Olly moves in next door and her curiosity for life outside of her home grows, causing her to push the boundaries that formerly kept her safe. With the bond that they had formed with their limited contact, the pair fall deeper in love, and over time Olly helps Maddy realize what she has been doing is not really living. Trailer The particular scene in this screenshot is the main turning point of the movie where things drastically begin to change. In this scene, Maddy takes a dramatic leap and decides to leave her house to go to Hawaii with Olly. She packed a bag an d purchased the tickets and accommodations,...

The Secret Life of Bees - Emery O

Synopsis: Set in the summer of 1964, right after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, The Secret Life of Bees follows Lily Owens as she runs away from her abusive father in hopes of finding out something about her late mother's life, leading her down a long road of self realization and discovery of the world. Through her journey she is forced to expand her point of view, address the issues of racism in her time and the importance of understanding lives other than your own. Lily spends time growing, bonding and healing with the Boatwright sisters, later finding out that her mother had also lived there many years in the past. Trailer: Screenshot #1: The pink house where Lily goes to seek out information about her late mother's life, and where she meets the Boatwright sisters. The house is revealed to be pink as part of a lesson to Lily. August tells her that she thought it was the "tackiest" color she had ever seen, but "if it'll lift May's heart, then...

His House -- Tristan Farmer

Film Summary: His House follows a refugee couple from South Sudan after they have been placed in government housing in England. Soon after moving in, it becomes apparent that the house is haunted, with both characters having individual spiritual encounters or hallucinations of the daughter they lost in their journey to England. The film follows both characters as they react to the haunting differently, with the husband, Bol, believing everything they brought from South Sudan is cursed and needs to be destroyed so they can create a new life in England; while the wife, Rial, believes they need to return to their homeland and atone for their sins. Film Significance: This film’s main purpose is to explore the mindset and experiences of refugees. The conflict between Bol and Rial’s reaction to their haunted house is a metaphor for how two immigrants or refugees might grapple with the question of assimilation and the struggle of culture shock. In this case, Bol repre...

screeningblackliterature2023

Search This Blog