Candyman
4K
(2021 remake/Universal 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: A Picture: B+ Sound: A Extras: B
Film: B+
Most
horror remakes and reboots seem to be lacking in one department or
another, but every so often you get a home run. Director Nia DaCosta
brings a frightening new vision of Clive Barker's Candyman
4K
(2021) to the big screen. One thing that the film does that is smart
is that it doesn't negate the classic original film that followed it
and pay too much ''fan service'' as is a common complaint amongst
film goers. DaCosta proves that she is a first rate filmmaker with
some very suspenseful filmmaking that is hard to take your eyes off
of. Luckily, Universal did a tremendous job with this home video
presentation that includes some interesting extras that are a step
above your typical studio release.
The
film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan
Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, and Vanessa Williams. We do end up
seeing Tony Todd (who played the original Candyman in the first three
installments of the series), but I will leave that as a surprise for
those who haven't seen this film yet. The story for the film is
based on the writings of horror master of the macabre Clive Barker
(Hellraiser,
Nightbreed.)
The film is executive produced by comedian turned horror director
Jordan Peele.
Chicago's
Cabrini Green neighborhood is victim to a deadly folklore about an
evil man with a hook for a hand that offers children candy with razor
blades in them. Accompanied by killer bees, this figure has been
feared by many for generations. Visual artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya
Abdul-Mateen II, who is a rising star as of this writing with big
roles in the Aquaman,
Matrix,
and Watchmen
franchises) becomes intrigued by the story and makes an art
installation that brings the tale to life. While they know they
probably shouldn't tempt fate, many characters in the film say his
name five times in a mirror, and as the legend has it, Candyman
comes to life with a vengeance and leaves bloody bodies in his wake.
Candyman
4K is
presented on 4K UHD disc with a 2160p Ultra High Definition transfer,
an HEVC / H.265 codec, HDR, a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1, and
audio mixes in lossless, English Dolby Atmos and a Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(48kHz, 24-bit) mixdown for older systems. The film is beautifully
photographed and always interesting to look at and has a fantastic
soundtrack that really adds to the uneasy metamorphosis of the film's
main character. Also included is a 1080p Blu-ray version of the film
that is very nicely done as well with the same audio mixes as the 4K
UHD.
Special
Features include (per the press release): an ALTERNATE ENDING,
DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES and these six featurettes:
SAY
MY NAME: Filmmakers and cast discuss how the horror at the center of
Candyman is both timely and timeless, which is a tragedy in
and of itself.
BODY
HORROR: We explore director Nia DaCosta's influences in the subgenre
of body horror, and what Anthony's physical transformation means to
the story.
THE
FILMMAKER'S EYE: NIA DACOSTA: Take a closer look at director Nia
DaCosta, and how her singular voice and perspective were perfect to
tell this story.
PAINTING
CHAOS: Filmmakers reveal how Anthony's artwork evolves throughout
the film and how they strived for authenticity in recreating
Chicago's vibrant art scene.
THE
ART OF ROBERT AIKI AUBREY LOWE: Composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe
reveals some of the unconventional methodology he used to create the
unique and haunting soundscapes sounds of the film.
TERROR
IN THE SHADOWS: A behind-the-scenes look at how the analogue shadow
puppetry scenes were created and an unpacking of why this ancient
artistic medium was the most conceptually relevant for depicting the
legends' cycle of violence.
and
CANDYMAN: THE IMPACT OF BLACK HORROR: A roundtable discussion
moderated by Colman Domingo about the nuanced relationship Black
Americans have with Candyman, the horror genre and the
overall idea of monsters and victims.
Candyman
(2021) is a worthy update to the original film and cements Nia
DaCosta as a major Hollywood player. While it's unknown as of this
writing whether the film series will continue or not, what has been
made here is certainly an accomplishment and must see for horror
fans.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
