Candyman (2021)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
An artist's exploration of a local urban legend leads to a terrifying confrontation with a vengeful spirit.
The story
In 2019, artist Anthony McCoy lives in Chicago with his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright. Seeking inspiration, Anthony explores the local Cabrini-Green housing projects after being told the legend of Helen Lyle. After meeting a local resident who explains the urban legend of the Candyman, Anthony begins to incorporate the myth into his art. However, after a local art show, a tragic accident occurs, and the line between the urban legend and reality begins to blur. Anthony becomes increasingly obsessed with the history of the Candyman, leading him to investigate the truth behind the legend and the figures associated with it.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film weaves together the history of the Candyman, a vengeful spirit who was a victim of a tragic past. In 1977, a man named Sherman Fields was killed by police, becoming part of the 'hive' of spirits. In 2019, artist Anthony McCoy becomes obsessed with the legend while creating an art piece. After a tragic event at an art show where his friends are killed, Anthony begins to experience visions of the Candyman. He discovers that he is actually the child who was taken during the events of the 1990s. Meanwhile, a local man named William Burke seeks to resurrect the Candyman hive as retaliation against gentrifiers. Anthony undergoes a physical transformation, and the truth of his identity is revealed by his mother. In a final confrontation at a church, William attempts to sacrifice Anthony to the hive. Brianna eventually faces the Candyman, who takes the form of Anthony before ultimately revealing his true identity as Daniel Robitaille, the original spirit who was mutilated and burned alive in the 1890s.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nia DaCosta
- Cast and characters
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II · Anthony McCoy; Teyonah Parris · Brianna "Bri" Cartwright; Nathan Stewart-Jarrett · Troy Cartwright; Colman Domingo · William "Billy" Burke; Vanessa Williams · Anne-Marie McCoy; Virginia Madsen · Helen Lyle; Tony Todd · Candyman / Daniel Robitaille
- Genres
- supernatural horror; horror
- Themes
- urban legends; racial issues; gentrification; art and appropriation
- Tone and mood
- horror; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- supernatural; horror; mystery; urban legend
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Forbidden by Clive Barker
- Franchise connections
- Candyman
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the direction, visual style, and the blend of social commentary with horror.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 54; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 72% · scale: percentage · review count: audience members
- Production trivia
- The film was the first feature to shoot on location inside the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.; The film features puppetry animation sequences created by Manual Cinema.; The film's score briefly made the shortlist for the 2022 Academy Awards for Best Original Score.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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