CANDYMAN Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review
The Movie
Synopsis
Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a housing project on Chicago’s Near North Side. From Anne-Marie, Helen learns about the Candyman (Tony Todd), a knife-wielding figure of urban legend that some of her neighbors believe to be responsible for a recent murder. After a mysterious man matching the Candyman’s description begins stalking her, Helen comes to fear that the legend may be all too real.
Directed By: Bernard Rose
Written By: Clive Barker & Bernard Rose
Starring: Virginia Madsen (Helen Lyle), Tony Todd (The Candyman), Xander Berkeley (Trevor Lyle), Kasi Lemmons (Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Walsh), Vanessa Williams (Anne-Marie McCoy), DeJuan Guy (Jake), Marianna Elliott (Clara), Ted Raimi (Billy), and more.
Genre: Horror & Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: Approx. 99 Minutes
Blu-ray Details
Audio
- 1080P High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1)
- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Video
- Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
- Resolution: 1080p
- Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Subtitles: English SDH
Special Features
Disc One: Theatrical Cut
- New 2K Restoration From a new 4k Scan of the original negative, Supervised and Approved by Writer/Director Bernard Rose and Director of Photography Anthony B. Richmond
- New Audio COmmentary with Bernard Rose and Actor Tony Todd
- New Audio Commentary with Authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman
- Audio Commentary with Bernard Rose, Author Clive Barker, Producer Alan Poul and Actors Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen, and Kasi Lemmons
- “Sweet To the Sweet: The Candyman Mythos”
- “Clive Barker: Raising Hell”
- Bernard Rose’s Storyboards
- Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spots
- Still Gallery
Disc Two: Unrated Cut
- New 2k Restoration from a New 4k Scan of the original negative with unrated HD inserts from a rare print
- New “Be My Victim”- An Interview with Tony Todd
- New “It Was Always You, Helen”- An Interview with Virginia Madsen
- New “The Writing on the Wall: The Production Design of Candyman”- An interview with Production Designer Jane Ann Stewart
- New “Forbidden Flesh: The Makeup FX of Candyman”- Including interviews with Special Makeup Effects Artist Bob Keen, Gary J. Tunnicliffe, and Mark Coulier
- New “A Story to Tell: Clive Barker’s The Forbidden“- Writer Douglas E. Winter on Clive Barker’s Seminal Books of Blood and Candyman‘s Source Story, The Forbidden
- New “Urban Legend: Unwrapping Candyman“
My Thoughts
I give Candyman a B-.
Candyman follows a graduate student, Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) who is researching the Legend of Candyman for a thesis in Cabrini-Green, a public housing development on Chicago’s Near North Side. The Candyman Legend comes to life when Lyle begins to fear it as a man begins to stalk her who resembles Candyman to the T.
I absolutely loved this film when I was younger but for some odd reason, this time around it fell flat. I thought maybe because I’ve seen it a million times (sense of excitement is gone because I know what is going to happen) but that can’t be the case as I’ve seen Hellraiser a million time as well and still watch it as if it was the first. I have no idea what changed from the 90s to now. I did watch the Director’s Cut. I usually watch the Theatrical version so maybe that has something to do with it.
What I did like about the film. Virginia Madsen is absolutely stunning in this film. Her blue eyes pierced the screen with every scene she was in. I loved the score. Helen’s Theme (which can be heard throughout the film) by Philip Glass is melodic and has a sense of sadness to it which added an eerie mood to the film. It kind of reminded me of Hellraiser as well. I love the story of Candyman and how he became who he became. The one thing I really liked about Candyman is Tony Todd’s voice. His deep voice made the character believable along with the backstory. I also like horror films from the 80s & 90s. Even the 70s because they don’t have the need to put attention on the jump scares (with loud noises) like films do today.
Catch Candyman Collector’s Edition out on Blu-ray November 20th!