Smoreni Zmaj Probably the best Barker's movie and one of the best horror thrillers I've ever seen. Movie after which the mirror in the dark will be one of the most horrible things that you might encounter. Story is intelligent, which is rarity in this genre, psychologically and sociologically well-founded, and together with fantastic Virginia Madsen in the lead role and excellent direction and music, it builds an atmosphere where explicit scenes are not necessary to maintain horror and tension at a high level. Perhaps the film would be even better without gore. Within the genre, this film is perfection and it's one of the rare films that I remember in detail for decades after watching. I just saw it again after more than twenty years and it thrilled me like the first time.9/10

gwnightscream Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Kasi Lemmons and Xander Berkeley star in this 1992 horror film based on Clive Barker's story, "The Forbidden." Madsen plays grad student, Helen Lyle who is determined to do a thesis on an urban legend, Daniel Robitille aka Candyman (Todd) who supposedly appears to those who say his name 5 times in front of a mirror. She's skeptical at first, but soon discovers he's real and finds herself in a nightmare when he haunts and makes her look guilty of his gruesome murders. Lemmons (The Silence of the Lambs) plays Helen's friend, Bernadette Walsh and Berkeley (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) plays Helen's husband, Trevor who is a professor. This is a good horror flick with a chilling score and Madsen & Todd are great in it. I recommend this if you enjoy horror.

tonyband Candyman is pure poetry. It is an atmospheric art film, with hooks rending flesh and pools of blood. Everything is several steps above the normal level of a Slasher (except humor, which is completely lacking—this work takes itself very seriously), particularly the acting. Madsen creates a completely believable heroine, a bit naive and weak at the beginning, trapped but stronger at the end. Todd is a standout, with his deep, fluid voice and commanding, somewhat lost expressions. When he extols the virtues of painful death, it is almost believable. The complex screenplay, based on a Clive Barker story, left me with plenty to think about and more to feel, particularly about race relations in modern culture. If you're not interested in thinking, Candyman will still entertain with plenty of gore and scares. It did frighten me, but I'm not entirely comfortable reciting "Candyman," five times.

robhartjr I first saw this movie as a young boy in the late 90s. I didn't pay attention to the deep meaning and pure genius of it. In my child mind all I knew was that Candyman was the big bad Boogeyman and he'll kill you if you say his name in the mirror enough times. I didn't pay attention to the story within at all. So as I grew up I began to develop a special fondness for Horror movies. In particular, Good Horror movies. It is still my favorite genre. So of course I stumbled across the name Clive Barker. His original Hellraiser movie, which was based on his own novel was for a time my favorite of his. The franchise of sequels that followed were either hit or mega miss. But I then began looking for any Clive Barker related movies. His other two directed movie "Nightbreed" and "Lord Of Illusions" were good but still paled in comparison to the icon of Hellraiser. "Midnight Meat Train" was good but again it couldn't hold a candle to the big H. Then came Candyman. I remembered my childhood thoughts of the film and just kinda skipped on it thinking it was just too gimicky. But for some reason I couldn't resist the urge to rediscover the movie knowing I hadn't seen it since I was a naive kid. So I read reviews everywhere online for the movie. Nearly everyone was praising it. Some calling it the best horror movie of the 90s. The itch needed to be scratched so I went out and purchased the Candyman DVD. It was a good horror movie night that night.The movie is set in the 90s but feels so timeless. Well except for the lack of cell phones everywhere. Needless to say the situations in the film are so disturbing and surreal yet very realistic believe it or not. The setting for some parts of the movie in Cabrini Green, which was one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the US back in the day, was so eerie. Unlike many horror throwaways the characters are likable and seeing them die is tragic and disturbing. Virginia Madsen is a beautiful and lovable woman. Her portrayal of the main character was so helpless. This also is one of the few horror movies where the characters don't make constant stupid decisions throughout just for the sake of keeping the horror going. You know what I mean, like when a character hears a strange noise and walks through a house calling out to the possible death threat and sometimes with no lights on. Those stupid decisions are non-existent here. This movie takes place in realistic scenarios. Sure you might be thinking 'how could a ghost coming out of a mirror to kill you be realistic?'. Well here's a fun part. Though some may disagree, I think the Candyman never really entered the physical realm in the movie. (Spoiler) From the moment the Candyman makes his first on screen appearance on is when the main character has entered her psychological doom. No one but Helen (Madsen) really sees the Candyman throughout the film. It's a scary possibility to think of the movie that way. (End Spoiler/theory) Speaking of Candyman himself, Tony Todd gives an iconic portrayal of one of the all time horror villains. His voice sounds like evil incarnate. It fills the room even if you watch the movie at a low volume. Some of his scenes are so trippy that even the viewer wonders if what they saw really happened. It's very dreamlike and of course very nightmarishly surreal. The musical score is one of the greatest of any genre. I'd even say the main theme is better than that of horror mainstays like Halloween and The Exorcist. The first half of the movie does a great job of building up tension without ever getting boring. The second half is just relentless in it's terror. Don't think this is a mindless madman gone wild horror movie. This is a movie that will haunt you if you really pay attention and preferably watch it loud in the dark and maybe with a group.So this is not only my favorite Clive Barker related movie, but probably my new favorite Horror movie. The night I bought the DVD as an adult I had hallucinations of Candyman as I tried to sleep. That NEVER happens to me. It was disturbing. But did it stop me from watching it again? No. This movie has such great replay value and it seriously gets scarier and more haunting with each viewing even though you know what's going to happen.