Say his name again, and you’ll hear the voices behind him.
Candyman (2025) is the terrifying new chapter in the urban legend that refuses to die. Directed by Nia DaCosta and co-written once again with Jordan Peele, this sequel expands the mythos in bold, provocative directions. It doesn’t just resurrect Candyman—it multiplies him.
Set three years after the events of the 2021 reboot, Candyman (2025) finds the community of Cabrini-Green in flux. The gentrification has accelerated, but the trauma lingers. Strange murders begin again—victims found with their mouths split open, bees swarming in places they shouldn’t be. But this time, it’s not just one figure in the mirror. There are many.
The film introduces a new protagonist: Lila Burke, a social activist and granddaughter of one of the original victims. She begins to unravel the terrifying realization that Candyman is no longer a single spirit of vengeance, but a hive mind—a chorus of wronged souls who refuse to be forgotten. The legend is evolving, just like the violence that created it.
Layered with sharp commentary on race, history, erasure, and generational trauma, Candyman (2025) becomes more than a horror film—it’s a reckoning. With chilling visuals, sound design that haunts the senses, and a climax that redefines legacy horror, the movie dares viewers to ask: what happens when vengeance becomes collective?
And yes, he still comes if you say his name five times. But this time… he’s not alone.
