Writer/director Nia DaCosta updates the Candyman story, by making a direct sequel to the classic 1992 film, and giving the narrative a new spin as it expands on the legend of Candyman, and ties it into the continuing cycle of prejudice and racial violence.

The whole film is about reflections, perspective, and narrative, as up-and-coming artist, Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) discovers the urban legend of Candyman that permeates Cabrini Green, the now-gentrified Chicago location which served as the setting of the first film.

Fascinated by the story, and the way it has been built up it becomes an all-consuming passion for him, influencing every angle of his work, even as it begins to tear away not only at his body but his relationship with curator, Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris).

With his new piece, Say My Name, he brings the legend, and the events that created the Candyman, which are different from those of the original film, back to life. That could cause some head-scratching, because the film positions itself as a direct sequel, including having Virginia Madsen’s character Helen show up in voice recordings.

But everything gets explained, and this expanded reality for the Candyman legend makes for a fascinating update, as well as a powerful social commentary on the realities of racial violence.

DaCosta delivers an almost dream-like quality to her film, as Anthony becomes consumed by the legend. The way the film plays with reflections makes for an almost hallucinatory experience and has the viewers constantly watching the corners, the slightest reflections, and remembering the idea of mirrors trapping and holding images.

It’s occasionally scary (the elevator sequence is great) bloody, has some very nice makeup effects, but at its heart, it’s a film about race, and how the cycle of violence remains the same despite changes, and how Candyman reflects those changes and consequently in the film brings about more violence.

I quite enjoyed Abdul-Mateen’s performance, watching as he becomes increasingly frightened and consumed by the legend, and Anthony’s connection to it. It’s a gorgeous-looking film, the locations, and the slowly creeping and sweeping camera movements add to its dreamlike nature.

Jordan Peele served as one of the film’s writers, and its producer, but this is very much DaCosta’s film, and I feel that it makes a worthy sequel to the original film, as well as a conversation starter about racial violence. The silhouette show that plays over the end credits shows that there may be countless more Candymen out there, victims of violence wreaked upon them.

And that can open a whole new world of stories to be explored. This one is a must for Candyman fans, and would make a great viewing experience paired with the original film.

Say his name.