It’s interesting that Sequel Month should end with a review of one of the most divisive sequels in the horror genre. The quality of Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh really depends on what you thought of the first film. The original Candyman is a film so great I’ll never have a full understanding of its meaning, every time I watch it my position on it changes.

Every time I watch Farewell to the Flesh however my position remains relatively the same, in that it’s actually a decent sequel with good characters and an original plot despite its failure to recreate the subtle horror of the original.

Taking place in Madi Gras in New Orleans, Farewell to the Flesh centres on resident teacher Annie Tarrant. Her brother Ethan has been arrested on suspicion of multiple recent murders. After doing some investigating, Annie discovers the urban myth known as Candyman. As her research proceeds, she realises that the relationship between not only her brother but her family with the Candyman runs deeper than she ever imagined.

The Characters

Unlike the original, Farewell to the Flesh is more like a standard horror thriller. There’s little to no subtlety in its execution.

While in the original the nature of Candyman’s existence was relatively vague, the sequel makes it incredibly clear that the Candyman is a real, supernatural entity. At this point fans of the original will probably reject the sequel as another example of a sloppy follow up to a classic horror. I argue however that fans should stick with the film and view it as its own separate tale that concerns the same world and same myth from the original.

From the beginning it’s clear that the film is trying to get you to like Annie and Ethan and, in my opinion, it succeeds in doing so.  

You learn that the two grew up in a privileged, loving family and following their father’s sudden death were emotionally broken, especially Ethan. He’s a man full of grief and frustration. Despite his shortcomings however, Annie still loves him and wants to get to the bottom of the murders he’s been accused of.

Her investigation brings her before the Candyman and, after several encounters, the death of many of her loved ones. Through many pains and revelations, Annie keeps going, determined to uncover the Candyman and her family’s past. She may not feel as real or as empathetic as Helen Lyle but she’s still likable and very compelling to watch as the plot progresses.

The Horror

Farewell to the Flesh has more jumpscares than It. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem if half of the jumpscares weren’t cop outs. I can’t count how many jumpscares there are of characters just being startled by another character appearing. It’s extremely cliché and makes the film feel very much like a cheap average horror.

The kills are a lot more gratuitous than those in the original. Don’t get me wrong, Candyman had a fair share of blood in it but Farewell to the Flesh feels like it’ll indulge in gory mayhem whenever it gets the chance. Some scenes warrant gore as they, regarding their contexts, should come across as shocking and disgusting. The best example being Candyman’s origin scene. Here we see how an African American painter was viciously tortured by racial bigotry and vigilantism, resulting in a pain and an anger so powerful it transformed into an immortal ghost.

Overall, Candyman Farewell to the Flesh is a unique follow up to the original that clearly tries to establish its own identity rather than replicate that of its predecessor. Its characters are well written, it builds on the mythology of the first film and while the horror may be over the top in terms of jumpscares and violence, some of it is still affective. If you loved the mythos of the original, I definitely recommend the sequel. However, if you’re sentimental about the realism and deep themes of the original, I’d skip it.

I give Candyman Farewell to the Flesh a decent 7 out of 10.

Well, that’s it. Another Halloween draws to a close. As a big horror fan Halloween is definitely one of my favourite times of year. It’s also the time of year I’m the most active on Duffhood! I guess that’s because I get to write about one of the genres I love the most. Now I can’t help but think what I’m going to do next Halloween. Review another franchise? Another Sequel Month? Maybe just another four random horrors? I’m not sure. What do you think? Let me know in the comments and I’ll think about your suggestions. Whatever I do, I have no doubt I’ll have another great time writing.