MovieChat Forums > Candyman (1992) Discussion > Underrated?

Underrated?

posted 4 months ago by [deleted]
40 replies | jump to latest

- Good story and screenplay. A nice 'bloody mary' urban legend type rendition, tackles some racism and housing themes.

- Good acting from the cast, in particular Virginia Madsen who was a great 'final girl' and Tony Todd who was superb as the villain.

- Superb cinematography. I love some of the shots in this.

- Beautiful OST.

- Well edited and paced. Doesn't overstay it's welcome, builds up some mystery and develops it's characters and mythos.

- Maybe lacking a little in the scare department but it's got a few gory moments and creepy sequences to deliver enough here, it's not entirely lacking.

I know this is regularly regarded as one of the better horror movies of the 90s but I feel like it has a case for being put ahead of stuff like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Hellraiser, The Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead and so on. All those movies are normally rated higher than this but I think when it comes down to the fundamentals of movie making this is better than most of those.

[–] mentality (472) 4 months ago

Remember seeing this when I was 15. Left a good impression on me. Really enjoyed and scared the donkey out of me. Still one of my favs. All those other movies were good for their time and release. So is Candyman.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

It's a terrific film. One of my all-time favourite horrors. I'd put it above all those others you mentioned.

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

I've always liked it but it's grew on me over the years and subsequent rewatches.

It wouldn't look out of place on a top 10 horror movies of all time list. Yet I rarely see it get ranked that highly.

[–] StinkyPoopyPants (3114) 4 months ago

This is in my personal top 10 horror films. It's criminally underrated. I feel the same way about Exorcist 3 😊

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

The Exorcist III is a great one. A superb screenplay and some great acting from George C. Scott and Brad Douriff.

[–] StinkyPoopyPants (3114) 4 months ago

Agreed! And has one of, if not the best, jumpscares of all time 😲

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

Amen to that! Although I preferred both the fanedit Legion, as well as the director's cut of the same name.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I really like The Exorcist III.

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

I haven't seen it since I was a kid in junior high, but I remember a number of things

1. The whole myth and lore of the Candyman himself, and calling his name 3 times in the mirror. All good horror films need an original premise that makes it stick out from the other dime a dozen slashers, and Candyman achieves this 10 fold.

2. The haunting piano theme. Simple but very effective. Really sets the tone and adds to the atmosphere. Chilling but melodic.

3. The scene where Candyman approaches Helen in the parking lot from the shadows after calling her name. This is probably the most disturbing scene in a horror since The Omen.

4. Virginia Madsen. She's an underrated & underappreciated actress, the kind that has enough energy and spirit to carry a film by herself by being likeable and not having a moody 'I'm a strong woman so like me' vibe. And her side hooters are not bad either. Today's actresses could learn a lot from her.

I never saw the sequels. I'm guessing Peele's remake made a big deal about the race aspect as the worthless hack always does and thus making it suck ass.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I agree with all of this. A truly great horror film (the sequels, unfortunately, are not - I didn't bother with the remake).

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

Thanks. I now know to avoid the other ones then haha.

Horror sequels seem to be hard to get right. Omen II is the only I've seen that's worthy of the original. Probably because the best horrors are stand alone one offs that should be left alone.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

Have you seen Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise? Those are two I'd definitely recommend.

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

Nah, I've only seen the first three ones by Sam Raimi.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I like the first The Evil Dead, not so keen on Evil Dead II, and really not a fan of Army of Darkness. I didn't like the increasing slapstick of the series. There's none of that in ED13 and EDR - but there is a lot of blood and gore!

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

I'm not really a fan of blood and gore, so I doubt I'll like the new evil deads. Same with the Rob Zombie Halloweens. I just don't dig the torture stuff.

I prefer horror that is all atmosphere - The Omen, The Exorcist, The Changeling, Death Ship (1980), The Evil (1978), Audrey Rose (1977).

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I agree with you about the atmospheric stuff. My very favourite horrors are the really creepy ghost stories. Things like The Uninvited (1944), The Haunting (1963), as well as Asian horrors like The Ring, The Grudge, The Eye, Dark Water, Shutter, etc, where the hairs stand up on your arms. Also, The Changeling is an absolute belter! That scene where Scott first hears Joseph's voice on the tape... Creepy as hell!

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

The Changeling is a masterpiece. I can't believe I'd never heard of it until recently. It should be one of the more vaunted scary stories, but isn't. That wooden rocking chair moving at the top of the stairs - bone chilling haha.

I think it's underrated because most horror fans prefer the in your face slashers. The psychological stuff gets lost on many of them. The Omen tapped into something I can't explain, so much so that a curse was put on the film and lots of eerie things started happening. The Omen is GOAT of horrors. All you have to do is listen to Jerry Goldsmith's score - it's pure horror.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I think also the atmospheric, slow-burn stuff requires patience. It seems a lot of today's audiences don't have that. You won't get much benefit from The Changeling if you're on your phone. You have to pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist whilst you watch these things, not sit there typing 'I'm 15 mins in - does it get any better?'

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

You have to pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist whilst you watch these things, not sit there typing 'I'm 15 mins in - does it get any better?'

Exactly haha. That's a very good summation, it's definitely not for those types. You either get films like the 'The Changeling' or you don't. Have you seen this film? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MCrDVunLw

It's hard to find horror films from more recent times who can match the older films in terms of style and atmosphere, The Innkeepers (2011) is the only one that reminds me of the older horror films I like.

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

I didn't care for The Innkeepers at all.

The Haunting of Julia (1977) (aka, Full Circle) is one you might enjoy (assuming of course you haven't seen it).

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

Well sometimes when I rewatch films I change my mind. The Innkeepers was fairly stock until the ending, which I thought was disturbing. A good ending can always change things a bit. Have you seen Windchill (2007)?

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll put it on my watchlist.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I haven't! But I will keep it by and watch it very soon!

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

Cool. Let me know what you think. It stars the late, great Richard Crenna, one of my favourite actors.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

Yes, Crenna was great. I will indeed let you know what I think when I've watched it!

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

Since you mentioned Asian horror, my good Doctor, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Noroi (2005) and Cure (1997) in the off chance you hadn't seen.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I haven't seen Cure - I'll try to put that right soon! Thanks!

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

My very favourite horrors are the really creepy ghost stories. Things like The Uninvited (1944), The Haunting (1963)

My favourite in that vein is The Innocents (1961). I also really like The Others (2001), The Orphanage (2007) and The Awakening (2011).

as well as Asian horrors like The Ring, The Grudge, The Eye, Dark Water, Shutter, etc,

Dark Water is brilliant and my favorite J-horror. Shutter and The Ring are very good too.

I'm actually not entirely sure I've seen original The Grudge (I have seen the american remake). I haven't seen The Eye but it's one I'm aware of and have considered checking out.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

'My favourite in that vein is The Innocents (1961). I also really like The Others (2001), The Orphanage (2007) and The Awakening (2011).'

I wasn't so keen on The Awakening, but definitely those other three. That second game of 'Knock-Knock' or whatever it's called in The Orphanage is seriously creepy! Also, I felt the apparitions of Miss Jessel in The Innocents - especially that one of her just standing there across the lake - were likely a big influence on James Watkins for his version of The Woman in Black.

The Eye is very good, as is the sequel. I haven't seen the third one as I understand it took a more lighthearted route for some reason.

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

Ah, a user of taste and refinement I haven't met yet! While I appreciate most things horror, if I want to get actually scared, give me creeping dread, like your list, although I'd never heard of The Evil, so thanks for that.

A few favorites not yet mentioned that do it for me: It Follows (2014), The Wicker Man (1973), Dead Ringers (1988), Angel Heart (1987), The Last Wave (1977).

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

Thank you haha. Good to see a fellow connoisseur!

The Evil is up on youtube if you fancy it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MCrDVunLw

I'll put those films on my imdb watchlist, thanks. I don't think I've see any apart from The Wicker Man.

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

Ta muchly for the link. And if you have a mind to, please do lmk if any of those shivers your timbers. Have seen all of those more than a few times, and I still get the chills at some scenes.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

I was impressed with It Follows. Not sure where they'll go with the sequel though.

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

It actually had me looking over my shoulder, afraid of who might walk out from my kitchen once or twice. It's up there in 9/10 territory with Bone Tomahawk for my favorite semi-recent horrors, and I am stingy with those. I even have the soundtrack and another album by composer/artist Disasterpeace.

Wait. He's doing a sequel? This is gonna sound petty, but I was so disappointed his follow-up film wasn't a horror, I still haven't seen Under the Silver Lake, but I'll try to maintain cautious optimism for They Follow...

[–] DoctorThirteen (13995) 4 months ago

Bone Tomahawk was fun. Did not expect Matthew Fox to be my favourite character!

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

Didn't even recognize him until like halfway through. He even made me choke up in that one scene, which is personally rare for the genre.

[–] Valerian (-273) 4 months ago

I rate it 10/10 but the last 5 minutes seem out of place.

The sound track is superb. Main Title Sequence youtu.be/TSd81qwxDNo

[–] Melton (4486) 4 months ago

Are you saying the last 5 mins were forced by the studio? If so, what was the original ending?

I like the shocker ending but it does seem odd to have Helen become a terrifying Candywoman - is she now going to start butchering innocent people like her predecessor??

[–] Tam87 (1189) 4 months ago

I'm not surprised the ending was tacked on. It was lame. The bonfire conclusion was enough.

[–] Nanook (1951) 4 months ago

I unfortunately saw this movie already having been a fan of Clive Barker's books, which is usually a recipe for disappointment. I gave it a 6/10, which is still a positive rating, mind you, but I'll be that guy and say the IMDb rating is fairly accurate, imo. I've revisited it a few times over the years, even. It's certainly not the worst Barker movie adaptation.

90s horror standouts for me would be Jacob's Ladder, Dead Alive/Braindead, Cube, Cemetery Man, BWP...

[–] VinceD (9805) 4 months ago

I'd rate this an 8.5/10

I agree with all your points, especially about Madsen and Todd, except I did find it pretty scary, although in a different way from most horror movies. Maybe 'scary' isn't the right word, though. It was really unnerving, and I mean that in the best way possible.