Candyman is sour

I was very excited about the new, horror film remake of CANDYMAN from the house of Jordan Peele. I was not a fan of the 1992 version and was eagerly awaiting Peeles’s spin on it. Sadly I walked away very frustrated and let down by the storytelling and lack of continuity. I feel like I ended up in the sunken place due to all the blatant plot holes.

I want to start with the positives since, as with any motion picture, I know that a lot of people worked very hard on this film. For one, it looked fantastic. The framing and use of lines and color was mesmerizing. The main character is an artist and the entire film looked like a piece of art. Peele and director Nia DiCosta certainly elevated the genre in how they visually presented their story. Like his past films Peele uses abstract pieces and concepts to add visual dimension to the spoken word.

The actors too did what they could with the lines they were given. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays artist Anthony McCoy. Anthony has been struggling with finding inspiration for his next art series. When he hears the legend of Candyman – say his name 5 times in the mirror and he kills you – he uses it as the backdrop for he creation. Not knowing that he will release horror on those around him.

Mateen gives it all in this performance and carries the entire film on his shoulders. He goes through many layers of emotion in this one and each time it feels organic and truthful. Anthony’s girlfriend Brianna is played by Teyonah Parris. Parris does what she can with her role but sadly the writing of her character is all over the place. She doesn’t have a chance to gain any footing and so Brianna slips and slides through the whole thing. Other than a final moment in the movie she doesn’t get much to play with.

My favorite performance, though in only a few scenes, is Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Troy, Brianna’s brother. Peele always has that one person in his film to break the tension. I felt like that with Troy. Everyone needs that person in their life that says what needs to be said.

Now to the nasty bits. I feel as if Peele was trying so hard to preach about social injustice that he lost sight of making a really good horror film. Yes, I understand that the real horror happens day to day but having it so blatant in his storytelling was a misstep. In Halloween and Friday the 13th we do not get preached at about the issues of bad parenting or how the government has failed those with mental disabilities. It isn’t the place for it. We just want to be terrified of a scary character. Side note, this film is not even scary. So fail number two.

Another problem was the writing. There are so many stories within the story that all of them get lost. Once it was all said and done I had no idea why anybody did what they did. What was accomplished? Anything? Was it just a set up for sequels? I wish I had an answer. Some of this was an origin story to shine a light on the previous Candyman films so that they actually make more sense. I get that. Also, there is story arc – though tiny – involving Troy and Brianna’s dad. Which went absolutely nowhere. I thought it was going to tie in nicely with the main narrative… but nope. Nothing. So why is it in there? For a sequel to come? If so, that is another cheap addition we didn’t need.

Having separated myself from the film for a few hours I do not hate it as bad as I did while watching it. But I am still very frustrated by the story and lack of cohesion. Mainly I am perplexed by what Peele is trying to do, not only here but with his movies in general.

Candyman is rated R for bloody horror violence, and language including sexual references. It is not for the squeamish, but horror fans will love the frontal assault of the senses. My wish is that if I say “Candyman sucks” five times this movie would just go away.

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