Ghoul Gruel’s review published on Letterboxd:
“I am rumour. It is a blessed condition, believe me. To be whispered about at street corners. To live in other people’s dreams. But not to have to be. Do you understand?”
First things first, the score is fucking phenomenal. It was so specific and so intentional and brought everything together, cementing this is as absolute classic IMO.
It’s visually stunning. Some great cinematography. It’s also got this early-90s-thriller grit and realism and the fantasy-theatrics of A Nightmare on Elm Street, but it’s packaged up like an X-files episode. Probably helped by Virginia Madsen giving Gillian Anderson and just being generally mesmerising in this role (and made smoking look so cool).
Story-wise, the plot was pleasantly unhinged and surprising. Took a nightmare turn I didn’t see coming and I loved it.
But it does have some flaws and some gaps. I don’t really understand Candyman’s whole deal. His backstory and entire shtick is an assortment of ideas smooshed into one. His rules and his actions don’t seem clear. I struggled finding reason. What’s clear is he’s a fucking cunt. True villain. Thankfully, I was comfortable hand-waving my questions as “Urban Legend shit”. And that voice. Perfect.
“The Candyman can coz he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.”
