18 Black Horror Films As Terrifying As “Candyman”
Nostalgia for the 90s is great right now, so it probably comes as no surprise that Candyman is making a comeback. The love of an orphaned killer with a haunting bass and side hook was never enough box office CRED from Freddy, Jason or Michael Myers, but Tony Todd’s performance and his signature vocal rattle made him an instant icon in Trench Coat. The 1992 original really inspired two sequels (one pretty good, the other … not so good) and remains a smart, smart and thoughtful slasher with all the courage and gore it needs, but also a sympathetic killer with a pretty good motive. for revenge. More importantly, the film helped remind studios that there is indeed an audience for horror films with black heroes.
The only thing missing was perspective. The main character of the film (apart from Mr. Robitaille himself) was still a white woman (Virginia Madsen), like most of the people working on the film behind the scenes. The new update / sequel / reboot is led by brilliant black director Nia DaCosta, who co-wrote the film with Jordan Peel and Vin Rosenfeld. There is no longer any need to lure the audience into a black story by targeting a white leader. (Maybe never was, or would have been, if Hollywood had paid attention.)
It looks like we’ve finally ingrained the belief that non-POC audiences will not appear in black-led horror films, and while Jordan Peele has a lot to do with it, he was by no means a pioneer into space. … The history of major horror films in which black people in front of the camera and behind it have their ups and downs, but they have always been there. These are some of the finest and most significant black horror films. About half of them show black artists in front of and behind the camera, while others show black actors in the foreground. Also, this is just a sample – there are plenty of black film experts and horror fans out there who can provide even better recommendations. Listen to them.