Candyman (Film Review)

1992 TriStar Pictures
Written and Directed by: Bernard Rose
Starring:Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons
MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 101 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 7/10

Here's a setup: a couple of 30-something grad students are writing a thesis paper on how urban legends are the new form of American folklore. They hear several stories of an urban-dwelling, hook-handed killer called the Candyman, the vengeful spirit of a slave's son who fell in love with a wealthy man's daughter, and had his hand chopped off and his body incinerated as a reward. The more gregarious of the two students, Helen, played by Virgina Madsen, drags the other with her to investigate in the Calibrini-Green projects of Chicago. They find some creepy things, and Virginia's classmate immediately bows out. Virginia's meddling eventually gets her mugged, and leads to the arrest and incarceration of a regular joe, who is charged with crimes that had been attributed to the Candyman. Virginia is hailed as a hero, and is set for a future on cloud nine, when she is approached in a parking garage by a tall, inhumanly deep-voiced man...with a hook for a right hand. Turns out the Candyman doesn't like his legend fading, and now he wants revenge. Virginia is sucked into a violent rondo of bloody carnage and insanity, so the titular villain can gain back his terrifying reputation.
Yes, this is not your basic horror premise, and 1992's Candyman benefits greatly from it.  Not only is the film able to surprise and shock, but the setting, and juxtaposition of a privileged white academic trying to play hero in a place she hasn't earned any understanding of, with a character born of that very place, presents many opportunities for thematic exploration. Admittedly, though, those themes are mostly subtext and window-dressing for a film that's far more interested in sudden, startling moments of absolutely bonzo violence (not even children or dogs are safe from Candyman's hook), and a late-film twist that elevates Candyman into the territory of dark fairy-tale. Indeed, the film delves into just how a fable or legend can be created, even as it presents quite a terrifying one as a starting point.
Bernard Rose's direction is solid, though the film would benefit from more stylization, and his screenplay, while taking a little too long to get to the entrée, is spare and economical once it does. As Candyman, Tony Todd cuts an imposing, and surprisingly tragic figure, though the sound effects used to enhance his voice are a little over-the-top, and certainly not needed--he's unequivocally proven that his voice is incredibly menacing all on its own in the Final Destination films, The X-Files...and virtually anything else he's starred as a villain in over his storied career. The production values run the gamut of cool early 90's atmosphere in the grimier settings, to near made-for-TV quality in some of the more traditional interiors. Phillip Glass' soundtrack is unique among horror films, featuring carnival-esque choral pieces that only seem to peek out when a character is traveling from one location to another.
Candyman is certainly a worthwhile entry into horror cannon, for both it's inventive use of gore (and bees!), and its non-traditional setting and story. The performances are great, and the film is certainly memorable...I just wish it was a little less rough around the edges. With a little more polish it would be a classic.