Candyman
Directed by Nia DaCostaIn present day, many years after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.
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Candyman Ratings & Reviews
- Sarah J5d agoEnding was wack
- jackmeatAugust 9, 2025My quick rating - 6.1/10. I knew going in that this was going to be a tough one when following such a brilliant original. I figured that getting Jordan Peele on board to write was going to help bring us something original to add to the plot. Well, it did, but only marginally, and to the point it was hardly the focus. Where the racial tones of the first one were apparent, this time they seem to be more of the focal point. How they were able to work the Candyman story from the original into this flick, though, was well done, even if it did alter the story a bit and leave some holes. The Cabrini Green location was fundamental to the first one, and none of that will make much sense if you are not a Chicagoan. This movie seemed to also be a painstaking commercial for the city to point out what they have done with the previously crime-ridden and poorly kept up housing project, now that the renovation has been in progress for YEARS. So hopefully you have seen the first to understand that the Candyman is an urban legend that will appear if you say his name 5 times (supposed to be in a mirror, but that part gets some liberties throughout this one). After he has been summoned, well, you can guess what happens. Again, Tony Todd plays the part and is criminally underused throughout this flick. His chilling voice throughout the first led to many of the original greatest and most memorable scenes. In this sequel, I questioned up until the end if that was even him in the movie. The atmosphere really didn't ever grab your attention to lead to any scares as well. This is the point of talking down my rating as I type since I think it through as I go. I did however, like how they pulled the lead into the whole story played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, even if it took them a while to get to that. The horror aspects of this, to me, have toned down a notch. Starting off with a nice first kill to get your attention, it then just falters in following that up. I think if this were a stand-alone flick without following such a modern classic, it would have fallen completely flat. As it is, I was entertained and also did like the few nods to the original that did work for this story, I just really expected more to be done with it since they were smart enough to follow up DIRECTLY with the first one and ignored the sequels that followed it in the '90s. Basically, a decent effort that, for me, was disappointing. You may not be as entrenched in the location, original story, and Clive Barker (who had nothing to do with this one as well), which is a shame. The things that still made this movie enjoyable for me are also the reasons I believe it let me down. Check it out and see what you think. (The popular thing on IMDB is hate, so don't be sheep and watch for yourself)
- lewism5December 27, 2025I enjoyed this one. Very nicely tied into the original, didn't find it particularly creepy or suspenseful but a fun horror
- VandytDecember 27, 2025It was to be expected that it wouldn’t be as good as the original, but it’s still a very enjoyable watch
- CallumOctober 27, 2025⭐⭐⭐½ (out of 5) Candyman (2021) – Old blood, new mirrors, and a legend reborn for modern fears. “Candyman” (2021) resurrects the horror icon with a stylish, socially charged update that manages to honour the original while carving out something distinctly its own. Produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, this reimagining isn’t just a retelling — it’s a reflection on how legends evolve, how trauma lingers, and how horror can still whisper truth beneath its screams. The story reconnects the myth to the same Chicago neighbourhood where it began, exploring gentrification, identity, and legacy as new generations learn that saying his name still comes at a cost. The cinematography is slick, the atmosphere heavy with dread, and the violence restrained but impactful — each kill feels deliberate, almost ritualistic. Tony Todd’s shadow looms large, even in limited presence, as the film cleverly expands the Candyman mythology into something more symbolic and unsettling. While it occasionally leans too hard into its themes, losing a bit of the raw terror of the original, it replaces that fear with purpose and precision. Stylish, thought-provoking, and haunting in both sound and silence, Candyman (2021) proves that some legends don’t fade — they adapt, they echo, and they still make you hesitate before turning off the lights.
- tjhoagOctober 12, 2025Worth the watch, was good not great and not exactly scary but entertaining
- Mike MartinsSeptember 7, 2025The 2021 Candyman had some strong moments, but overall it left me feeling like something was missing. The atmosphere was creepy, the visuals were striking, and the social commentary was clear—but the film never quite reached the level of tension or horror I was expecting. While the performances were solid and the cinematography gave it a stylish edge, the pacing felt uneven and the scares didn’t always land. It leaned a bit too heavily on messaging, which at times took away from the raw, unsettling terror that made the original Candyman so memorable. It’s not a bad movie—it has some genuinely haunting sequences—but it doesn’t fully capture the spirit of what made the original so iconic. Worth a watch, but I walked away feeling like it could have been so much more.
- Paul ValenzuelaJuly 5, 2025Fun but not much of a story arch. Things progressively get worse and the movie is not scary enough to make the chaos very entertaining. Overall a fun film
- Alexander SierputowskiJune 22, 2025Amazing cinematography, great use of colors and costumes and a really interesting take on a modern urban legend.
- Cristofer “DONOD” ChoucoutouJune 17, 2025Just a non entertaining blm movie. No ty.
- NonPlayableContentJanuary 20, 2025The perfect story telling between the original is something you can't always expect with such a large time gap but it makes perfect sense and adds to the world. The movie builds to be a true horror and it's forward facing a commentary. The actors sell both sides perfectly and really every move to the end makes perfect sense. I think I'm just not use to horror being so smart so I'm extra in love.
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Candyman Trivia
Candyman was released on August 26, 2021.
Candyman was directed by Nia DaCosta.
Candyman has a runtime of 1h 31m.
Candyman was produced by Win Rosenfeld, Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper.
In present day, many years after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.
The key characters in Candyman are Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris), William Burke (Colman Domingo).
Candyman is rated R.
Candyman is a Horror, Thriller, Mystery film.
Candyman has an audience rating of 7.2 out of 10.