10 Horror Movie Backstories That Get Worse The More You Think About It
4. Daniel Robitaille - Candyman (1992)
Portrayed by the enigmatic Tony Todd, the eponymous killer in 1992 cult slasher Candyman is best known for being summoned by saying his name five times in front of a mirror. It’s only after completing this act does the hook-handed killer arrive with his swarm of bees to enact bloody carnage.
While Todd’s exceptional performance is a main factor in what’s made this villain so captivating, it’s the character’s origin story that makes him especially fascinating.
Real name Daniel Robitaille, Candyman’s origin dates back to the late 19th century when he was an affluent artist living in New Orleans. He fell in love with the daughter of a wealthy landowner, but, being the son of a slave, their romance was kept hidden. However, this secret was discovered when the woman became pregnant. She told her father, who hired a gang of men to chase down and punish Robitaille.
They cut off his hand and stuck a hook in the stump, smeared his body with honey and watched him get stung by a swarm of bees before setting him on fire, all while a crowd watched.
The Candyman franchise has always dealt with themes of racism, which are painfully reflected through Robitaille's own origins.