10 Horror Movie Sequels Nobody Wanted…. But Everyone Loved

Based on Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden, the original Candyman from 1992 is a highpoint of the genre because it brilliantly mixed grisly frights/gore and perpetually relevant social commentaries on American classism, gentrification and the legacy of racial violence stemming from slavery.

As if often the case, it was swiftly followed by multiple continuations (1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s Candyman: Day of the Dead) that fell far short of matching what the first Candyman conjured up. Consequently, the property was left dormant for over 20 years.

Despite having the names of rising talents Nia DaCosta, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Jordan Peele behind it, 2021’s Candyman reboot/sequel was preemptively viewed by many as another inevitably bad sequel without a discernable target demographic.

All of that changed when it hit theaters, though, and pessimists had to admit that Candyman was an artfully constructed gem full of lively shot compositions, tense scenarios, meaningful messages, and thoughtful connections to its forerunners.

Sure, the last 20 minutes or so are rushed, but that does little to diminish how well Candyman charts its own path amidst deepening the series’ lore. The final scene, in particular, is extremely arresting and cleverly reflective.