Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh - Could have been sooo much worse

‘Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh' is an absolute masterpiece of cinema.  Well, sort of.  No, it's not that good really if you're looking at it as a stand-alone film, but - in terms of 'horror sequels' (i.e. a set of films which get dramatically worse with each new instalment) - it's not that bad.  Yes, of course the original was better - how many sequels really do improve?  But, and I say again, it's a horror sequel, therefore it should probably be afforded a little more slack than most films.

In the first outing we're introduced to the urban legend of 'Candyman' - a sinister figure who appears in the mirror behind you if you say his name three times.  And then he helps you brush your teeth.  Or kill you.  In fact, mainly the killing part.  And in quite a grisly fashion with a hook and much angry violence.  Anyway, he's back and people are still yapping his handle at their bathroom mirrors in order to prove the legend is merely a myth.  And then they die.  Unless the story dictates that he doesn't want you dead.

In fact, this is just what happens to our hapless nineties heroine, played by Kelly Rowan.  She only goes and stutters his name in the mirror five times, only to find he wants more from her than to open her neck up with a hook.  And so, she has to find a way of banishing him, or just generally getting the hell away from him before he slaughters everyone she comes in contact with. 
Yes, hardly an inspired horror plot, but its main saving grace is Candyman himself, Tony Todd.  No matter how good the original was, my gripe with it was that he wasn't in it enough.  Here, his part has been well and truly beefed up to give him much more screen time and he seems to be really enjoying his stint as the deliciously-evil and sadistic monster and he ends up giving a performance that will cement him as a horror villain on a par with Freddy Kruger, Pinhead and Jason Vorhees.

Even though the film looks a little dated by today's standards and, judging by the hair and clothes, there's no doubt it was filmed in the nineties, the film-makes didn't seem to scrimp on the special effects.  And, when I say effects, I basically mean gore!  And, isn't that what most of us horror fans come to see?  I don't think any 'claret-lovers' should leave a viewing of 'Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh' feeling short-changed regarding the amount of body parts sent flying during the film's runtime!

Like I say, it's not perfect, but it is a sequel to a far superior horror gem.  Don't be too harsh on it and, if you like horror films in general, you should get something out of this, even if it's just an appreciation of just how well Tony Todd can command his presence on screen.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that