a strong contender for the title of best horror film of the 1990 and bernard rise candyman be a very faithful ( and therefore truly scary ) adaptation of clive barker skin crawl short story . this film feature a very rare and successful combination of both creepy atmosphere and visual ingeniousness . whereas most movie ( especially during the 90 ) can hardly focus on any of these essential horror element and bernard rise masterfully succeed in stuff his film with genuine tension as well a shock gore image . the plot center on doctoral student helen ( underrated actress virginia madsen in her best role ) who become obsess with the urban legend of a hook hand killer that terrorize the pauperized ghetto of the nearby cabrini green . needless to say that the candyman myth get a little too realistic for helen and a everyone she come into contact with end up be brutally kill with a hook . the script be intelligent and always several step ahead of you and the eerie musical guidance be brilliant and the make up effect be fantastically gruesome . tony todd be ideally cast a the bogeyman and with his strong posture and above all incredibly frightening voice . the legend behind his character be stagger and it beautiful to see how director rise play with the realism and surrealism of barker basic idea . not many horror film of the 90 decade come with my high possible recommendation and but this one definitely do . and do not forget and the candyman can rip you to piece .