With so many spooky and scary movies out there, it’s hard to decide what to watch when October rolls around. But why limit yourself to just viewing creepy content? You can read these three tales as well.
‘Candyman’ (1992)
The works of British horror author Clive Barker have an uneven history of success, but few villains are as enduring or iconic as Tony Todd’s titular Candyman. Based on Barker’s short story “The Forbidden,” the movie shifts from Liverpool to Chicago, yet maintains the themes of the power of folklore and poverty tourism.
Grad student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is interested in local urban legends when she comes across stories of The Candyman, a hook-handed, bee-covered ghost who might be the embodiment of historic evils. Director Bernard Rose and a score from minimalist composer Philip Glass elevate the material beyond the typical slasher fare to keep the intelligent meditation of the story. But don’t worry, gore fans. This is still from Barker’s “Books of Blood” series, so there is plenty of horror to be found.
The film spawned a couple of tepid sequels over the decades until this year, when director Nia DaCosta’s sequel of the same name returned the original social commentary and creepiness to the screen. This is a good year to get reacquainted with the original.
Watch the original “Candyman” on Tubi. Purchase “Books of Blood, Volume 5” (which contains “The Forbidden”) via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more.
— Trevor Fraser
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” begins with a group of high school seniors — Ray, Julie, Barry and Helen — as they party in celebration of their summer together. In the book, that night, Barry’s car strikes a young cyclist on the road. In the film, Ray is driving and hits a fisherman. They agree to hide the body and never speak of the incident again.
The following summer, as the quartet of young adults are ravaged with guilt, they are haunted by somebody who claims to know what they did last summer. This shows up in notes, photographs and appearances by a mysterious stalker. In the movie, it’s a fisherman in a slicker who uses a hook to commit several murders. The slasher film isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, garnering ratings in the 40 percent range on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has a dedicated cult following.
The details differ between the book and film adaptation, but the premise remains the same: Teens with guilty consciences run from their actions as somebody seeks revenge.
Watch it on Amazon Prime Video. Purchase the book via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and more.
— Patrick Connolly
‘Sleepy Hollow’
No matter what version — short story, movie or show — “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has always fascinated me, perhaps because I grew up in New York, not far from the village. Yes, it’s real. There’s even a haunted attraction near Sleepy Hollow called Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses, named for the story’s chief spook.
Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” tells of a village haunted by spirits — most notably, the Headless Horseman, who is the ghost of a Hessian soldier who lost his head to cannon fire during the Revolutionary War. Superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane moves to the town and charms the villagers but becomes Brom Bones’ rival as the two seek to win the favor of Katrina Van Tassel. Crane is attacked one night by the Horseman and disappears. But was it truly the mythical figure or a jealous Brom Bones?
Tim Burton’s adaptation titled “Sleepy Hollow” is loosely based on the story. However, instead of a schoolmaster, Crane (Johnny Depp) is a New York City police constable investigating several murders in Sleepy Hollow. Fans of Burton’s gothic film style are sure to appreciate this reimagining of Irving’s tale.
But if the scary version isn’t for you, there’s also the delightful Disney cartoon that will have you singing along with “It’s the new schoolmaster. What’s his name? Ichabod. Ichabod Crane.” It cleverly tells the classic tale in a kid-friendly manner with slight scares. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” short is part of “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad,” so you might as well watch the wild adventures of J. Thaddeus Toad in the “Wind and the Willows” segment, too.
Watch “Sleepy Hollow” on Starz or “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” on Disney+. Purchase the story via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and more.
— Kathleen Christiansen
