KF216

2017

Movies and TV

Candyman is a supernatural killer originating from Clive Barker's short story, "The Forbidden," and popularized by the 1992 film Candyman. The character, portrayed by Tony Todd, is the vengeful spirit of Daniel Robitaille, an African American artist and the son of a freed slave, murdered in the late 19th century for his love affair with a white woman.

Robitaille was tortured, his hand was severed, and he was smeared with honey, attracting bees that stung him to death. His ashes were scattered over what would become Cabrini-Green in Chicago. He can be summoned by saying his name five times while looking into a mirror. Doing so unleashes his wrath on those who dare to invoke him.

Candyman wields a hook where his hand used to be and is always accompanied by swarms of bees. He appears in several sequels, each exploring different aspects of his origins and expanding on the themes of racism, social inequality, and urban legends. The 2021 film, also titled Candyman, acts as a direct sequel to the original, further exploring the cyclical nature of his legend and his connection to systemic oppression.