I’ve
always been quite partial to the original CANDYMAN ($20), as I
thought it was a rather atmospheric, entertaining horror movie- one that
was a cut above many other genre offerings from the early 1990s. Not only
was the movie stylish, it created for itself an intriguing core mythology
about a supernatural boogeyman that killed to keep its legend alive.
Adapted from Clive Barker’s story The Forbidden, CANDYMAN
Americanizes the story and transports it from Liverpool origins to a
Chicago slum. The plot of CANDYMAN focuses on graduate student
Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen), who is doing a thesis on modern mythology
and urban legends. During the course of her research, Helen comes across
the grisly tale of the Candyman, a hook-wielding specter that supposedly
haunts the Cabrini-Green housing project.
Legend
has it that the Candyman can be summoned by anyone foolish enough to look
into a mirror and say his name five times. Of course, one’s only reward
for summoning the Candyman is being split open by the angry spirit's hook.
Helen’s research eventually takes her to the gang infested Cabrini-Green
housing project, where she finds the Candyman’s hidden shrine, one in
which the phantom killer supposedly dispatched one of his victims. While
in Cabrini-Green, Helen feels compelled to disprove the legend by
attempting to summon the Candyman. At first, nothing happens, but Helen
soon finds herself besieged by a very real spirit who has no intention of
being disproved, or allowing his legend to die. In addition to Madsen fine
work on the film, CANDYMAN also features the very imposing figure
of Tony Todd in the title role. Todd proves to be a mesmerizing presence
as the Candyman; he is both horrifying and haunting, and Todd brings a
tragic quality (of almost Shakespearean proportions) to this cinematic
boogeyman. Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons, Vanessa Williams and Ted Raimi
are amongst the other supporting cast members.
Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment has made CANDYMAN available on DVD in a
1.85:1 widescreen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9
displays. This is a very nice looking transfer of a modestly budgeted
horror movie from the early 1990s. The image produces a good level of
sharpness and detail, although there is a bit of softness sprinkled in
here and there. Colors generally provide natural looking saturation,
although wintry exteriors and sequences in the housing project can appear
a bit subdued. Highly saturated hues only seem to be used for an
occasional effect. For the most part, the colors appear stable, without
noise or overt fuzziness. Blacks appear accurate and whites are clean.
Shadow detail can be somewhat murky and noticeable film grain crops up now
and again. There are some blemishes on the film elements, but nothing too
excessive. Digital compression artifacts are never a cause for concern.
CANDYMAN
comes with Dolby Digital 2.0 channel soundtrack, which decodes to standard
surround. Personally, I think that the soundtrack is the biggest missed
opportunity of the Special Edition reissue of CANDYMAN. Phillip
Glass' evocative, haunting score for CANDYMAN is not only worthy of
being remixed into 5.1, it should have also been presented on an isolated
soundtrack all to itself. The existing track gets the job done well
enough, with decent channel separations across the front and respectable
reinforcement from the rears. Dialogue is well reproduced and is totally
understandable. The bass channel isn’t particularly potent, but it doesn’t
wimp out either. French and Portuguese language tracks are also provided,
along with English, French and Portuguese subtitles.
The
basic interactive menus allow one access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as some nice supplemental materials that were
produced by Automat Pictures. Starting things off, is an interesting audio
commentary assembled from different recording sessions featuring director
Bernard Rose, author Clive Barker, producer Alan Poul, plus actors
Virginia Madsen, Kasi Lemmons and Tony Todd. Next up, Sweets To The
Sweet: The Candyman Mythos, a twenty-three minute program that
looks at the making of the film and the influences it drew upon. Clive
Barker: Raising Hell is a ten-minute biography/interview with the
horror author/playwright/filmmaker. Bernard Rose Storyboards
are presented in a five-minute montage underscored by Phillip Glass'
wonderful music for the film. Previews for some other Columbia horror
titles close out the supplements.
CANDYMAN
is a creepy and atmospheric horror movie that has developed a well
deserved following over the years. Columbia has done a reasonably good job
with their Special Edition DVD, although I feel more attention should have
been paid to the film’s terrific soundtrack. If you are a CANDYMAN
fan or a horror aficionado, you’ll want to check out this DVD.
I’ve
always been quite partial to the original CANDYMAN ($20), as I
thought it was a rather atmospheric, entertaining horror movie- one that
was a cut above many other genre offerings from the early 1990s. Not only
was the movie stylish, it created for itself an intriguing core mythology
about a supernatural boogeyman that killed to keep its legend alive.
Adapted from Clive Barker’s story The Forbidden, CANDYMAN
Americanizes the story and transports it from Liverpool origins to a
Chicago slum. The plot of CANDYMAN focuses on graduate student
Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen), who is doing a thesis on modern mythology
and urban legends. During the course of her research, Helen comes across
the grisly tale of the Candyman, a hook-wielding specter that supposedly
haunts the Cabrini-Green housing project.
Legend
has it that the Candyman can be summoned by anyone foolish enough to look
into a mirror and say his name five times. Of course, one’s only reward
for summoning the Candyman is being split open by the angry spirit's hook.
Helen’s research eventually takes her to the gang infested Cabrini-Green
housing project, where she finds the Candyman’s hidden shrine, one in
which the phantom killer supposedly dispatched one of his victims. While
in Cabrini-Green, Helen feels compelled to disprove the legend by
attempting to summon the Candyman. At first, nothing happens, but Helen
soon finds herself besieged by a very real spirit who has no intention of
being disproved, or allowing his legend to die. In addition to Madsen fine
work on the film, CANDYMAN also features the very imposing figure
of Tony Todd in the title role. Todd proves to be a mesmerizing presence
as the Candyman; he is both horrifying and haunting, and Todd brings a
tragic quality (of almost Shakespearean proportions) to this cinematic
boogeyman. Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons, Vanessa Williams and Ted Raimi
are amongst the other supporting cast members.
Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment has made CANDYMAN available on DVD in a
1.85:1 widescreen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9
displays. This is a very nice looking transfer of a modestly budgeted
horror movie from the early 1990s. The image produces a good level of
sharpness and detail, although there is a bit of softness sprinkled in
here and there. Colors generally provide natural looking saturation,
although wintry exteriors and sequences in the housing project can appear
a bit subdued. Highly saturated hues only seem to be used for an
occasional effect. For the most part, the colors appear stable, without
noise or overt fuzziness. Blacks appear accurate and whites are clean.
Shadow detail can be somewhat murky and noticeable film grain crops up now
and again. There are some blemishes on the film elements, but nothing too
excessive. Digital compression artifacts are never a cause for concern.
CANDYMAN
comes with Dolby Digital 2.0 channel soundtrack, which decodes to standard
surround. Personally, I think that the soundtrack is the biggest missed
opportunity of the Special Edition reissue of CANDYMAN. Phillip
Glass' evocative, haunting score for CANDYMAN is not only worthy of
being remixed into 5.1, it should have also been presented on an isolated
soundtrack all to itself. The existing track gets the job done well
enough, with decent channel separations across the front and respectable
reinforcement from the rears. Dialogue is well reproduced and is totally
understandable. The bass channel isn’t particularly potent, but it doesn’t
wimp out either. French and Portuguese language tracks are also provided,
along with English, French and Portuguese subtitles.
The
basic interactive menus allow one access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as some nice supplemental materials that were
produced by Automat Pictures. Starting things off, is an interesting audio
commentary assembled from different recording sessions featuring director
Bernard Rose, author Clive Barker, producer Alan Poul, plus actors
Virginia Madsen, Kasi Lemmons and Tony Todd. Next up, Sweets To The
Sweet: The Candyman Mythos, a twenty-three minute program that
looks at the making of the film and the influences it drew upon. Clive
Barker: Raising Hell is a ten-minute biography/interview with the
horror author/playwright/filmmaker. Bernard Rose Storyboards
are presented in a five-minute montage underscored by Phillip Glass'
wonderful music for the film. Previews for some other Columbia horror
titles close out the supplements.
CANDYMAN
is a creepy and atmospheric horror movie that has developed a well
deserved following over the years. Columbia has done a reasonably good job
with their Special Edition DVD, although I feel more attention should have
been paid to the film’s terrific soundtrack. If you are a CANDYMAN
fan or a horror aficionado, you’ll want to check out this DVD.
