‘Behind the Monsters’ Recap: ‘Candyman’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Tony Todd as Daniel ‘Candyman’ Robitaille

It is definitely safe to say, that the Shudder documentary series, Behind the Monsters, is going to be viewed as one of the finest horror documentaries to ever hit the airwaves. Simply because, this particular show is going deeper than any other horror doc out there since it not only explores the history of the character/icon it is highlighting, but it also dives into so much more. Such as what went into the creation of the icon, an honest examination of the highs and the lows of their franchise and of course… their impact and their meaning on modern society, and that really is about as comprehensive a study as one can get, and it matters because… that truly helps the viewer understand the power and importance of horror.
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If anything, the gravity and the draw of this documentary is top of mind today… because it was put on full display in a seamless manner during this week’s examination. For ‘Candyman’ really offered up an analysis of the character this writer has never seen before, and it pointed out some incredible details about the character that some might have missed… such as the fact that Daniel ‘Candyman’ Robitaille is perhaps the most refined slasher to come out of the era. Since outside of the hook upon his hand, his dress and vernacular always juxtaposed that of his cohorts, and the same goes regarding his victims, and that level of intelligence and class only adds to the mystique of a character that quite frankly, is synonymous with history.

For his franchise arrived at a peak of social unrest, since months prior to the film’s release, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots took place. Riots that were ignited not only by the beating that Rodney King suffered at the hands of the LAPD, but by the fact those officers were acquitted of any wrongdoing. Which led to days of riots from a community that demanded justice for unwarranted and excessive police brutality and releasing a movie about a black artist who was brutally lynched and kills out of sorrowful revenge… allowed for the original film to capture the zeitgeist of the era and give a voice to those that simply didn’t have one. Which is a revelation that adds a level of gravity that really wasn’t present in slashers at the time, and what’s amazing is that the character is still incredibly relevant nearly thirty years after he arrived on the scene.

Because after the release of a pair of films that didn’t quite capture the majesty of the original, the 2021 arrival of Candyman was able to ground the character once again in modern times and the civil unrest surrounding all of us. In part by examining the nature of gentrification, and why it is concerning, but more so by once again… holding up a mirror to racial injustice in our world. By reminding us of how many stories there are about African Americans that share Daniel’s story, and how that speaks to how little has changed, and how these stories still rally action. Which is striking and bleak and bold commentary to find within a horror film, but that is the best way to get the point across and help the audience to understand a reality we still struggle with, and this documentary is equally as bold for pointing this out to the audience.

Since so many documentaries in this vein, sugar coat the commentary or strictly focus on the fan reactions. But this one… held nothing back and embraced the commentary and the insights from Tony Todd, who played the character and understands him best, and the scholars that have studied Candyman’s impact on the pop culture landscape, and that allowed for a powerful examination to take place. One that gives you pause and leaves you in awe over the raw honesty and visceral nature of this franchise and that hammers home, why this documentary stands out above the rest. And this really is the finest examination of Candyman out there, one that will be fawned over long after its air date, because of its brilliant analysis one of horror’s youngest and most impactful icons. Until next time.

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