Jordan Peele has made a name for himself by elevating the neglected genre of horror and combining it with fitting social commentary. Candyman falls right in line. However, Peele's work might be outdone in this project because director, Nia DaCosta (who is also a co-writer) brings a very intentional atmosphere to this film. The imagery is consistently striking, the sound is vivid, and the somber tone is executed perfectly. Candyman could have easily come off silly or ham-fisted but, instead, was delicately balanced, knowing just how far to push its themes.
Both Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Teyonah Parris provide layered performances and display wide ranges of emotions, which adds to the overall richness to this already ample production. Each lead character has enough going on to keep audiences guessing. It really is refreshing to be surprised by the twists and turns of this story. Yet, despite the many strengths of Candyman, the cinematography is king here. So much creativity and revelation is loaded into the imagery of Candyman that it is undoubtedly the driving force of the movie. Ultimately, Candyman is an intellectual challenge disguised as a fun ride that should satisfy viewers looking for either type of experience.
Writing: 8/10
Direction: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 6/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
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