Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Candyman 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 28, 2022

In 2021, “Candyman” was released, which was a sequel to…“Candyman,” a 1992 gothic horror feature adapted by writer/director Bernard Rose from a short story by Clive Barker. While stylishly made and thematically purposeful, it wasn’t a scary movie, more interested in developing social and racial issues introduced in the original film. What makes Rose’s picture at least somewhat commanding is its attention to the power of fear, with the production generating an impressively pressurized viewing experience that pulls scary business from a number of sources, contributing to a fantastically realized nightmare realm at times. The first “Candyman” remains the best in the series (this includes two other sequels), presenting a driving sense of doom that feels genuinely suffocating, with Rose using real-world agony to fuel something sinister, reaching effective points of terror.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2018 Blu-ray review.

Candyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray release.

"Candyman" was previously released on Blu-ray in 2018, from Shout Factory. They return to the title in 2022 with a UHD release, which contains the Unrated Cut, which is sourced from "the original negative with HD inserts for the uncut footage from an archival film print." Changes to "Candyman" are extremely brief, and while there's a slight dip in resolution (see screencap #5), the difference isn't too noticeable. The rest of the Dolby Vision presentation captures the cinematic qualities of the production, with fine and film-like grain. Detail is fresh, exploring facial particulars and textured tours of Cabrini-Green areas. Gory additions are also quite vivid and costuming is fibrous. Exteriors retain dimension. Colors offer a colder, autumnal atmosphere for the endeavor, while warmer hues are found with clothing choices and lighting. Deep blacks preserve the mysterious aspects of apartment tours and Candyman's presence, and red blood is distinct, along with greenery. Skintones are natural. Highlights are tasteful, dealing with roaring fires and elements of apartment and office lighting.

Candyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The UHD release of "Candyman" offers a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD track, supporting a production that put an extraordinary amount of care into its sound design. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and subtle, ranging from softer emotional exchanges to the booming ways of Candyman, who fills the soundstage with his echoed presence. Scoring is also rich, offering a wide sense of Philip Glass's piano and organ score, which emerges with complete authority, retaining distinct instrumentation. Atmospherics are circular and engrossing, delivering a sense of crowd movement, insect buzzing, and room tone. Low-end offers some rumbly pressure points.

Candyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD:

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Bernard Rose and actor Tony Todd.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Stephen Jones and Kim Newman.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:04, HD) is included.

Unrated Cut:

• "It Was Always You, Helen" (13:11, HD) is an interview with actress Virginia Madsen, who shares how a pregnancy with the original lead of "Candyman" allowed her to take the role. Madsen explores the process of working with bees and her experiences with hypnosis, which she believes is real. Cast camaraderie is examined, including her time with Tony Todd. And the interviewee offers her memories of the burn makeup she had to wear in the climax of the movie, with cast and crew uncomfortable around her.

• "Be My Victim" (9:47, HD) is an interview with actor Tony Todd, who discusses his initial hesitation with the part of Candyman, eventually looking for a classic horror angle to use to bring him to life. Time was spent bonding with Madsen, with their chemistry making some studio executives uneasy. The racial element of "Candyman" is examined, and Todd's time with bees is recalled, making for a dangerous situation.

• "Urban Legend: Unwrapping 'Candyman'" (20:41, HD) is an interview with authors Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, who hope to impart a "black perspective" when discussing the film. They both profess fandom for the 1992 picture, and delve into ideas on white fears and black representation, also identifying "Candyman" as a "black movie for white people."

• "Forbidden Flesh: The Makeup FX of 'Candyman'" (8:02, HD) is an interview with effects artists Bob Keen, Mark Coulier, and Gary J. Tunnicliffe. The trio discuss their involvement with the picture, tasked with creating rotting flesh and assorted gore, also in charge of Candyman's hooks for various shots.

• "Looking Back in the Mirror" (15:49, HD) is an interview with Vanessa Williams, who tracks the development of her career at the time of "Candyman," which represented her second screen acting gig. The interviewee shares thoughts about her time with director Bernard Rose and co-stars, and details the recreation of Cabrini-Green on a soundstage. Williams also discusses her appearance in "Candyman," the 2021 sequel.

• "Reflections in the Mirror" (9:48, HD) is an interview with actress Kasi Lemmons, who was fresh out of film school and ready to act in the early 1990s, scoring a part in "The Silence of the Lambs." Lemmons explores cast camaraderie and behavior she learned from director Bernard Rose. The interviewee reflects on her time in Cabrini-Green, and remains positive about the whole shoot, describing it as a "delicious experience."

• "A Kid in a Candyman" (13:36, HD) is an interview with actor DeJuan Guy, who recalls his initial audition process for "Candyman," informed he got the gig by Virginia Madsen. Guy discusses the on-set experience, sharing anecdotes and memories, and he amusingly recalls his feelings at the first screening of "Candyman," only willing to watch his scenes due to an overwhelming fear of the picture.

• "A Story to Tell: Clive Barker's 'The Forbidden'" (18:39, HD) is an interview with author Douglas E. Winter.

• "The Writing on the Wall" (6:22, HD) is an interview with production designer Jane Ann Stewart, who describes her efforts to create sets for the Cabrini-Green sequences and Candyman's lair.

Theatrical Cut

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Bernard Rose and actor Tony Todd.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Stephen Jones and Kim Newman.

• Commentary #3 features writer/director Bernard Rose, author Clive Barker, producer Alan Poul, and actors Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen, and Kasi Lemmons.

• Commentary #4 features writer/director Bernard Rose and podcasters Adam Green and Joe Lynch.

• "Sweets to the Sweet: The 'Candyman' Mythos" (23:49, SD) and a 2004 making-of featuring interviews with producer Alan Poul, writer/director Bernard Rose, author Clive Barker, and actors Virginia Madsen, Kasi Lemmons, and Tony Todd.

• "Clive Barker: Raising Hell" (10:46, SD) is an interview with the author, who explores his upbringing, inspirations, and career highlights.

• "The Heart of 'Candyman'" (7:07, HD) is an interview with actor Tony Todd.

• "Bernard Rose Storyboards" (5:22) are offered.

• T.V. Spots (1:36, SD) contain three commercials for "Candyman."

• Still Gallery (5:19) collects poster art, lobby card, film stills, and BTS snaps.

• Original Script is available via BD-ROM.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:05, HD) is included.

Candyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Candyman" has its highlights, including Tony Todd's portrayal of the complex monster of the movie, creating a romantic figure of pure menace, paired well with Virginia Madsen. Special effects are fascinating, including the use of bees to amplify Candyman's torment. And there's a hall-of-fame score by Philip Glass that does a lot of the heavy lifting in the picture, contributing a rich foreboding sound for the endeavor, helping Rose achieve his desired level of intimidation. "Candyman" isn't perfect, with a few clumsy scenes and uninspired writing hurting the feature in the final act, but it carries immense presence in a way few horror productions do, launching a new genre icon with unusual grace and palpable tension.