Candyman 2020 brings back a familiar scene from the third movie. Based on the newly released trailer, the new Candyman appears to follow after the storyline of the original, ignoring the two sequels, while still paying homage to the entire franchise.
The 1992 original, based on Clive Barker’s story “The Forbidden,” is one of the most acclaimed horror movies from the 90s. It takes place at Cabrini-Green, a rundown and crime-ridden public housing project in Chicago where there is an urban legend about the Candyman, a slave who was brutally murdered. The legend says that anyone who says his name five times in a mirror will summon the Candyman, who will then brutally stalk and kill them.
Based on the trailer, Jordan Peele’s (Get Out and Us) reboot, teaming up with director Nia DeCosta (Little Woods), appears to be more of a sequel and a reinvention than a straight retelling of the story, with several returning actors from the original. Candyman (2020) brings back the surviving baby from the first film, Anthony McCoy, played by Abdul-Mateen II (Us), now as a grown man and visual artist interested in the Candyman legend. He returns to the same area where Cabrini-Green used to be, but it’s changed and is now a far different community. What’s interesting, however, is that one particular scene spotted in the trailer is one that is actually from the third movie: Candyman: Day of the Dead.
What Story Idea Does Candyman 2020 Bring Back From The Third Movie?
Candyman 2020 sees the gentrification of the Cabrini-Green projects in Chicago, along with a return to the art scene explored in the third movie. Anthony McCoy, the baby from the original, now as a grown man, is an artist himself. At 1:17 in the trailer, while at an art gallery, he says, “You should say his name. I dare you.” This brings to mind the gallery scene from the third movie where Caroline McKeever (Donna D’Errico), also an artist, is dared to say Candyman’s name five times in the mirror during an art show for Daniel Robitaille’s paintings. In her case, she does it. From there, things go horribly wrong as the Candyman has been summoned and begins going after those who were present at the time, including Caroline herself.
Although the fact that a similar scene is hinted in the new Candyman trailer may only be a small homage to the third film, it could also be a clue as to what to expect. Anthony, who doesn’t believe in the Candyman legend, may dare others, or perhaps even himself, to say Candyman’s name in the mirror during his own art show. This could be the key turning point in the film when the Candyman is unleashed and begins to collect his victims. Only time will tell, as Candyman is set for release on June 12, 2020.
Update: A previous version of this article said the art show was depicting McKeever’s own artwork. This has been corrected to say they were Daniel Robitaille’s paintings.
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- Candyman Release Date: 2021-08-27
