helen lyle ( virginia madsen ) doctoral student and and wife of a collage professor and be do research on urban legend and mythological folklore for her school thesis . though and there be one legend which get her attention and lead her to rundown housing block where the resident believe that the murder that take place there be do by the hook hand serial killer the candyman ( tony todd ) . a mysterious figure that can be summon by repeat his name five time while look in the mirror . which helen do and now her life turn into horrify nightmare and which teeter between reality and myth and a she get close to the truth about the candyman . second time around and this memorable piece hasn not lose any of it effect . it not only a incredibly brood horror film that manage to create an creeping or ingenious plot with such an unsettling physiological tone and but also provide some generally horrific shock that creep up on you and aren not for the squeamish . so and it far from your normal slasher and it just doesn not concentrate on the violence for a change . not only do the plot build on this mystical legend constructively and but also there also some solid social commentary on the mindset towards race and sex and which add more to this cleverly layer plot ( or should i say tragic love story ) . what be so great about the screenplay be that you yourself feel apprehensive to what happen to the protagonist and to where this story be head by play on what people believe and how these believe can overcome them . plus it make great use of the chicago gloomy surroundings . not only do the film have substance and but also style to boot . the direction by bernard rise be quite brilliant and with rise superbly mix visuals that gel myth and reality superbly . particularly the well craft encounter between helen and the candyman these sequence be incredibly hair raise . he create such a glum and dark atmosphere within these rundown building fill with vibrant artwork and the richly layer aura go hand to hand with the moody legend . the slow pacing of the film be perfect while there be no tedious blotch because you be totally wrap in the story and by the delightful performance . the death toll isn not big and but there be some real gruesome death and with a lot blood . the make up and special effect be extremely thoughtful and inventive . phillip glass extremely effective score deserves such high praise . soothing and but also haunting and be incredibly effective towards build towards such an almighty blow . another bonus be the smooth a silk camera work while it capture the balance layout of chicago with plenty of stun ariel shot ( great intro ) . overall and i be just amaze by this beautifully plan production . what a horror icon . tony todd totally nail down such a terrifying and profound performance a the mythical be the candyman . i believe this horror character totally wipe the floor clean of the other icon of it genre and who create him . no other than from the dark mind of clive baker ( hellraiser ) and who bring this frighten thriller alive and which be basically base on baker short story the forbidden . he come up with a unique horror character that downright unnerving and completely authentic and have a lot of depth . but tony todd tower figure and eerie voice have a lot to owe to that and to make one tremble in his presence . virginia madsen give a stellar performance a helen lyle and who we really do care for her and feel what she be feel . good support role from xander berkley a helen husband and kasi lemmon a her friend or student who also work with her their thesis and vanessa williams a anne marie mccoy who live in the rundown estate . the dialogue be pack with depth and but also lace with interesting topic and todd line be pretty much poetic and smooth . the one and only small negative would be the end for me . i be somewhat let down by the second end and i think maybe it could have do without it . it just felt tact on . anyhow it do not stop it from be damn right creepy and it do pack a real unsteadiness . to get in the mood of it and i say it definitely a film to watch late at night alone . one of the clever horror film ( if not the best ) of that disappoint decade they call the 90 for horror film . if youre look for a serious horror ( before scream imitator make a mockery of the slasher sub genre ) and i highly recommend this provocative slasher that doesn not cop out the audience .