Candyman (2021)
Candyman
Soon at your home
Trailer
Why watch this film?
In "Candyman", the 1992 film by director Bernard Rose, a murderous ghost with a hook for a hand and bees coming out of his mouth gave us a certain fear and indicated how the slasher wave of the 1980s ("Friday the 13th," "Nightmare on Elm Street") was simply losing strength. Everything was becoming generic, more of the same. Almost 30 years later, Nia DaCosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld show us how to do a reboot. In "Candyman," DaCosta (also praised for "Little Woods") updates the plot. Similarly to what was done in "The Invisible Man," Candyman is no longer just a ghost that goes around killing, but rather something more -- his existence, as well as his particularities, now have a clear meaning for the audience. There is not only social criticism, but also much reflection from small details in the script signed by the trio DaCosta, Peele ("Get Out") and Rosenfeld. The origin of Candyman, the story of the candy and the bees, his look, the reason for his violence. Everything is explained in a concise script, with only a few slips in didacticism and too much explanation, and it makes a lot of sense. But above all, it is very relevant to the world at the moment the new movie arrives. Throughout the story, you can shiver, be moved and, of course, get some scares -- although this is not the focus of Nia, who never falls into cheap terror. A great movie, one of those powerful and necessary ones, which show that reboots and remakes are not always bad. You just need to have good ideas and good directors behind them.
Filmelier
Our suggestions
Plot summary
A "spiritual sequel" to the horror film Candyman (1992) that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began.
To share
Do you want to watch something different?
Watch full movies now!
Press play and be surprised!
Where to watch?
Soon at your home
From the same director
Little Woods
Premiering director Nia DaCosta, winner of the 2018 Nora Ephron Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, and showing off her personality right away. After all, 'Little Woods' makes it clear where it stands by telling the story of two sisters living in North Dakota, a city once bustling with economy but now starting to see a departure of jobs, population, money, and possibilities. Traversing a kind of modern noir, with touches of the Wild West, the feature film shows these two characters trying to survive on the brink of poverty--and having to work outside the law to improve their living conditions. With a slow, almost contemplative direction, Nia DaCosta builds a powerful mosaic not only about the challenges of this region, but of an entire economy doomed to failure. Special mention to the accurate performances of Tessa Thompson ('Creed: Born to Fight') and Lily James ('The Dig').
The Marvels
Even though Captain Marvel did well at the box office, The Marvels premiered without much excitement. Several reasons explain this: sexism, the lack of enthusiasm from fans towards actress Brie Larson, and disillusionment with the Marvel Studios phase after Avengers: Endgame. However, the fact is that The Marvels is a considerably better film than the franchise's immediately previous installments, such as the terrible Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. There are issues in this Nia DaCosta-directed film (from the exceptional Candyman), like the lack of focus, the caricatured and weak villain, and the ongoing need for constant jokes. Nevertheless, The Marvels has flashes of boldness (although fewer than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), very well-shot action scenes, and, above all, good chemistry between the leads: Captain Marvel (Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). It's not Marvel's salvation, but it's far from being a disaster. There's some life here and a lot of fun, which is the last thing a fan stuck in the past would want.
Horror
The Nightman
The Nightman a dramatic thriller that explores the dangerous boundary between love and darkness. The story follows a young pregnant woman who begins to question the perfection of her boyfriend upon discovering his possible involvement in mysterious disappearances and murders, linked to his sleepwalking behavior. With praised performances and precise direction, the film delves into complex themes of relationships and personal dilemmas, keeping the audience engaged in its dark suspense.
Abigail
Abigail demonstrates why we should keep an eye on the director duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, especially when they have original material at their disposal (they also directed Scream 5 and 6, with mixed results). Abigail is a film that manages to balance the terror and tragedy of its characters with the absurdity of its premise, thanks to a clever script that plays with the conventions of vampire literature, careful direction, and a phenomenal cast (led by Mexican actress Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens) that fully utilizes their roles. The plot follows a group of kidnappers tasked with a delicate job: to kidnap a millionaire's daughter for ransom. However, it all turns out to be a trap: beneath the guise of a 12-year-old girl, the victim is actually an ancient vampire who likes to play with her food. Like Ready or Not in its time, this film is self-aware, pushing its story and violence to the most absurd and fun limits without falling into self-parody. It won’t change the history of horror cinema, but it’s an excellent (and even stylish for a film of its genre, I dare say) choice for a fun time at the movies with friends.
28 Days Later
Twenty-eight days after a killer virus was accidentally unleashed from a British research facility, a small group of London survivors are caught in a desperate struggle to protect themselves from the infected. Carried by animals and humans, the virus turns those it infects into homicidal maniacs – and it’s absolutely impossible to contain.
The Jack in the Box Rises
When Raven is sent to an all-girls boarding school, she unleashes a demon from a mysterious vintage jack-in-the-box hidden on the school grounds. Will the students make it out alive, or will the demon claim the victims it requires to remain alive?
