Ela Jones

**** Spoilers **** Interesting visually, and very relevant social commentary. Using real life cases for some of candymans various incarnations was particularly impactful but also clever. Various nods back to the original: I liked the bridge scene as it demonstrated the gentrification of Cabrini Green without labouring the point. Unfortunately the score isn't as haunting as the original and it isn't as atmospheric or as frightening as the original. Bringing Anthony and his mother back was great and created continuities between films made nearly 30 years apart, the gore isn't too over the top and the story is paced well, with foreshadowing through out. I really liked the puppets parts, I thought that was a really interesting way of telling the back story without the tired use of flashbacks. I enjoyed many of the themes for example reaching out for help and that "help" not being helpful eg calling the police and them killing Anthony before coercing his gf to lie in order to cover up their crime. A similar theme is in the original. I personally find that interesting. The 1970s incarnation of candyman although a sympathetic character, he isn't romantic the way Tony Todd's is, he isn't seductive so he's not as psychologically frightening to me. However the real life base for his story however is, highlighting the injustice of racially motivated violence, police brutality, incompetence and hate crimes as well as simultaneously creating the hive element of the 2021 candyman. Potentially setting things up for various sequels, prequels and spin offs. Over all I enjoyed this movie. But not as much as the original.