Candyman: The Reflection of Black Struggles

Candyman.

Candyman.

Candyman.

Candyman.

Candyman.

When you say his name 5 times in the mirror, it’s said he’ll come out and kill you. Suited with a hook for a hand, he slashes your throat. Brutal Right?  

The origin of the story began with Books of Blood, a collection of horror fiction anthologies written by Clive Barker. “The Forbidden” detailed the story of university student Helen, who discovers the legend of Candyman while writing her thesis on graffiti in Cabrini-Green. She comes to encounter him herself when exploring the destitute neighborhood. This birthed the 1992 film “Candyman,” and we see the tale developed even further.

While it was illuminating, the 1992 film was written and directed by Bernard Rose, a white man. The film depicts Cabrini-Green to be filled with ‘misogynistic thugs’ and everyone in the area speaks in a comedic deep Chicago accent. There is a stark difference when looking at the adaptation of the story released this year. The collective work of Nia DaCosta and Jordan Peele brings the story to life, adding a deeper meaning to the horror of Candyman.

*Spoilers ahead*

The story revolves around artist Anthony McCoy and his art director girlfriend, Brianna Cartwright. After hearing the story of the forgotten legend of Candyman, Anthony visits Cabrini-Green to gather inspiration for his new collection. From the beginning of the story, the viewer knows the inevitable fate of Anthony. As he becomes more and more pulled into the legend, he begins to transform, and he becomes the new Candyman. 

The original Candyman was Daniel Robitaille, which we saw depicted in the original movie. Robitaille was an artist who was terrorized publicly and eventually killed after being involved in a relationship with a white woman. Over time, Candyman collected the souls of men who were wrongfully killed by white men, adding them to the Candyman “Hive.”

The basis of this legend is the concept of racial revenge. Candyman states in the 1992 film, “They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What's blood for if not for shedding? With my hook for a hand, I'll split you from your groin to your gullet. I came for you.”

All the different versions of Candyman met the fate of death wrongfully, and it was usually brought upon them by white people. Anthony meets that same fate in a way that is extremely prevalent in today’s world. After having the police intentionally called on him, Anthony is shot by police while doing absolutely nothing.

Even though horror often reflects real-life fears, this film hits deeper. The film encapsulates gentrification, police brutality, and corrupt systems. In the latest movie, what’s left of the original Cabrini-Green has become a destitute area surrounded by newer condos that town over the rundown buildings. When the legend of Candyman is no longer shared, no one can get hurt.

The concept of modern oral folklore, an unselfconscious reflection of the fears of society, is present in both movies. Candyman is often referred to by non-believers as a ‘cover-up’ for the rampant crime happening within black communities. Helen Lyle says on one of the tapes Anthony finds, “The easy answer is always, ‘Candyman did it’. The summoning game itself could be connected... This grew from the community’s collective subconscious. A survival tool evolved from the need to protect itself and its children from the horrors of the community.”

In reality, Candyman represents the terrifying reality that black people face daily. His history goes back from lynching all the way to police brutality. The pain and suffering of black people throughout American history have led to generational trauma— keeping this fear alive.