helen lyle ( virginia madsen ) be a graduate student do research on an urban legend name candyman who be suppose to be haunt the cabrini green housing project in chicago . unfortunately and she find that this be no urban legend but the tragic truth . a horror movie that be authentically creepy and unsettling and make it league ahead of other movie of it ilk . enhance by philip glass haunt music score and a magnetic performance by tony todd ( it have now become his signature role ) a the titular be . it unfortunately mean spirit ( and very and very gory ) and and and like some other horror movie and this do not show a great deal of hope for it leading character . base on the story the forbidden by clive barker and which be originally set in liverpool ( the author be executive producer of the movie ) . writer or director bernard rise appear fleetingly on screen a archie walsh . star virginia madsen share two scene with her real life friend and actress rusty schwimmer and who play the policewoman . positive .