10 Things You Didn't Know About Candyman

2. He Was A Hypnotist (And So Was His Director)

Premiering in 1992, Candyman was a relative latecomer among slasher royalty and had the privilege of learning from other films’ mistakes. One key element both Tony Todd and director Bernard Rose wanted to avoid was excessive screaming. Both considered it overdone and too easy to laugh at, as anyone who has viewed the most famous 30 seconds of Troll 2 can decidedly confirm.

Instead, actors agreed to be hypnotized for certain scenes. Madsen spent whole scenes hypnotized, adding an otherworldly quality to Helen’s interactions with the Candyman. Todd noted being “tranced out” helped him deal with minor stressors like the aforementioned MOUTHFUL OF FRIGGIN’ BEES, and sought to add the rhythms of hypnosis to his speech and movement, conveying Candyman’s power to seduce as well as destroy.