Film Reviews by JL

For what it's worth, I really liked the BLM message interwoven throughout this film and felt it was really apposite as it sits so well with the original Candyman story- however, I do agree it's light on suspense for a horror, especially when compared to the original- and the touches such as the Phillip Glass score are much missed, despite it being revisited & reworked in the closing score.

I did really love the interspersed shadow puppety and the closing segments of this were very affecting. I think maybe the way that a lot of the set pieces were based in very modern and unatmospheric/sterile glossy glass fronted apaprtments somehow lessened the sense of atmosphere and foreboding that we may expect (or hope for) in a classic horror flick, but I appreciate that this was necessary to get the idea of the gentrification over.

So, although it's low on creepiness and atmosphere in comparison to the original, I suppose the real horror of this piece is in the overall (and very valid) message, and I for one reccomend it!

The other reviewer's review is a fine piece of writing and inspired me to rent this.

However, I really struggled to complete this- the rape scene is just too much (too real, too dark, somehow) and so I thought I'd add my own two cents on this film in case anyone else would appreciate the rape trigger warning... it was just far too bleak and unsettling (and rape-y) for me on a dark November evening. Nope. Sorry to be emotive, but if it helps others...

This film should come with a warning "Animals were intentionally harmed in this film"...

Whilst looking very promising in its opening scenes (nice cinematography and introduction to characters), my partner and I opted to end viewing this film just 20minutes in when a mule is attacked by a bull... not CGI, but real violence, real anmals... this was used to propel the narrative. Unnaceptable to us and also quite certainly to many other viewers.

Warnings should accompany such releases - Animal cruelty is not an acceptable element of art, just as Bull-fighting is not an acceptable recreational "sport" ...the brief synopsis provided by Cinema Paradiso (presumably from the DVD sleeve or press release) spent it's frst paragraph praising the the director rather than letting potential viewers know that this film was dealing with such subjects - we'd have never selected it if we had known it was about bullfighting or bull-ranching.

I sincerely hope this review helps at least one potential viewer be spared from the distressing imagery captured here.