Plot: Season two of Mayfair Witches continues the journey of Rowan Mayfair after she has unwittingly given birth to the demon Lasher. She is determined to understand what he has become – human or monster? – and to use him to fulfill her purpose as a healer, but when tragedy strikes, she must put aside her own desires and fight to protect her family. 

Review: In 2024, AMC delivered a fantastic second season of their updated take on Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. Concluding with where the first novel in Rice’s Vampire Chronicles ended and setting the stage for the third season to adapt the novel The Vampire Lestat, AMC’s other adaptation from the prolific author’s vast library continues to build a larger shared universe with the second season of Mayfair Witches. Also set in New Orleans, Mayfair Witches debuted in 2023 with a glimpse into the sorcery and magical side of Rice’s world as it focused on Rowan Fielding (Alexandra Daddario) discovering she is the scion of the ancient Mayfair dynasty led by patriarch Cortland Mayfair (Harry Hamlin). At the end of the first season, Mayfair Witches was paving the way for connecting the existing and future series in AMC’s new universe, which is very apparent in this new season.

Season one was a decent start for Mayfair Witches. Introducing a magical society’s rules and structure is daunting for any film or television series. Still, season one did a good job of fitting in many characters and development across eight episodes. The end of the first season found Rowan coming into her own as a witch, harnessing her powers, and having a romantic showdown with the demon Lasher (Jack Huston). As season two opens, Rowan gives birth to the baby conceived by Lasher, and the baby happens to be the reincarnation of Lasher himself. Growing at an expedited rate, Rowan must figure out how to deal with what Lasher will grow into while also contending with the revelations of her family line and place in the Mayfair legacy. However, season two is far bigger in scope than the first season, expanding not only the cast but also the scale of the story beyond the shores of the United States.

This season introduces additional members of the Mayfair clan, notably Alyssa Jirrels as Moira Mayfair, a mind-reader who has returned to New Orleans for answers. Thora Birch guest stars as Gifford Mayfair, and The Silence of the Lambs’ Ted Levine portrays Julien Mayfair, the father of Cortland, Carlotta, and Ian (Ian Pirie). Levine is fantastic in a role that draws on his extensive resume of character work. Outside of the Mayfair clan, we are also introduced to a former romantic partner of Rowan’s in Sam Larkin (Ben Feldman). Sam is the CEO of a genetic company, and his role is key this season in Rowan’s investigation into her family’s powers and what Lasher is capable of. On the Talamasca side, Ciprien Grieve (Tongayi Chirisa) learns more about what the Mayfairs represent to the secret organization he works for, which expands to include new members from different cities, including Franka Potente as a senior European operative of the Talamasca.

The heavy focus on Lasher and his origins takes the story across the Atlantic to Scotland, where his backstory is revealed. This season combines many elements from the second and third novels in Anne Rice’s trilogy, Lasher and Taltos. Because of the combination of plot elements, much of this season relies on Jack Huston to play a prominent role. Huston imbued Lasher with a suave menace in the first season, which is significantly different this time. The shift to introduce characters in Scotland who clash with the bon vivant Mayfairs from New Orleans adds depth to this world of witchcraft. The additional focus on the Talamasca also allows this season to directly connect to plot elements from Interview with the Vampire. This builds toward an eventual crossover between the series and the characters. For now, Alexandra Daddario continues to anchor this series as our gateway from the human world into this supernatural one. Sometimes, the plots may get a bit over the top, but they still manage to make it entertaining along the way.

Season two features directors Colin Bucksey (Fargo, Breaking Bad) and Sarah O’Gorman (The Witcher) with two episodes each, and Logan Kibens (The Power, Snowfall) helms the remaining four. Written by showrunners Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding, it also boasts returning writers Sarah Cornwell and Sean Reycraft and new writer Megan Mostyn-Brown. It is something of a thankless job to try and wrangle some of the silly dialogue these characters need to spout, but the scribes on Mayfair Witches do a decent job of making it seem believable. While the second season’s plot is much more complex and confusing, the writers have sacrificed the sexiness and erotic elements of Anne Rice’s source material in favor of magic and wizardry. All of the body-swapping, blood sacrifices, and Celtic mythology factor into the story, but the sexual elements and romantic side of what makes Anne Rice novels so popular has stagnated a bit this season. Yes, there is still sex, but it pales compared to the first season.

After the exceptional Interview with the Vampire, it is hard to consider the second season of Mayfair Witches as anything but underwhelming. This series does not have nearly the same grandeur and polish as the other AMC entries in the Anne Rice shared universe. Mayfair Witches certainly still has the potential to dig into what made all of the author’s novels worldwide bestsellers, and it was ambitious to expand this season internationally. Unfortunately, Mayfair Witches still feels bogged down by soap opera-caliber plotlines and too many disconnected characters. Mayfair Witches would have worked better if the series had focused on Rowan and Lasher rather than including dozens of supporting family members and trying to wedge in elements for the already teased Talamasca spin-off series. I have no doubt that a third season is still on the way, which hopefully can do away with being beholden to the source material and expanding this story in a new direction.

Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches premieres on January 5th on AMC.

Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches

AVERAGE

6

The post Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches Season 2 TV Review: More gothic melodrama starring Alexandra Daddario appeared first on JoBlo.

The holidays are over, but discount season will stretch into mid-January 2025 thanks to Sony’s ongoing New Year sale on PlayStation 5 and PS4. There are some really steep discounts on a ton of great games. A perfect time to grab some neat stuff that you’ve been meaning to tick off your backlog.

Read more…

The holidays are over, but discount season will stretch into mid-January 2025 thanks to Sony’s ongoing New Year sale on PlayStation 5 and PS4. There are some really steep discounts on a ton of great games. A perfect time to grab some neat stuff that you’ve been meaning to tick off your backlog.

Read more…

Best known to genre fans for playing iconic slasher Jason Voorhees in multiple Friday the 13th fan films, Jason Brooks has stepped behind the camera to direct the upcoming film The Death of Snow White, which is set to be released on the same March weekend that Disney will be releasing their live-action Snow White movie! With March 21st swiftly approaching, a trailer for The Death of Snow White has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Directed by Brooks from a screenplay he wrote with producer Naomi Mechem-Miller, The Death of Snow White has the following synopsis: Pursued by her stepmother for eternal beauty, Snow White flees into a terrifying forest and aligns with seven bloodthirsty dwarves – cold-blooded assassins with a knack for brutal killings. Her spirit is tested in this grim fairy tale.

The film stars Sanae Loutsis (Kill Craft) as Snow White, with Chelsea Edmundson (Army of the Dead) as the Evil Queen. Brooks has an acting role in the film, and other cast members include Tristan Nokes (Salvage Yard Shine Boys), Risa Mei (The Yorkie Werewolf), Ali Chapman (Who’s Watching the Kids), Jeremy Hallam (Hacks), Carl Covington (The Horrorverse), Kelly Tappan (Children of the Pines), Holland Stull (Devil’s Knight), and newcomers Dillon Moore, Michael De Santo II, Christopher Burnside, and Hailey Stubblefield.

Coming our way from Real Fiction Studios and STL Productions, The Death of Snow White is said to be a raw, dark fantasy reimagining of the beloved tale, a gothic horror experience that stays true to the core themes that made Snow White a timeless classic. Brooks said, “While our intention was to create a fun and unique take on the story while incorporating wonderful practical effects, we never intended to compete against Disney and what they are doing. Our entire budget is less than 1% of Disney’s budget. They are spending more on marketing than we had to make the film. We love Disney and want the best for everyone. Our true goal is to make a movie that people will truly enjoy.“

What did you think of the trailer for The Death of Snow White? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post The Death of Snow White trailer gives beloved tale a dark fantasy reimagining appeared first on JoBlo.

The Skarsgard family is about one of the most talented working clans today. Headed by patriarch Stellan, the sons include Bill, Alexandar, Gustaf, and Valter. And while not every one of them is a household name, some have been able to break away from their old man to make a distinct mark in the business. As it has been for the past few years, Bill is the sort of presence that might make you say, “Oh, right, I forgot who his dad was!”

Even though Bill Skarsgard might be the reigning “scream king” by playing Pennywise in It and Count Orlok in Nosferatu (among others), he has carried with him plenty of advice from father Stellan, who had already made a name for himself in the family’s native Sweden and in the States (thanks to movies like Good Will Hunting, Amistad and Ronin). As he recently told MTV UK, “I would say my dad, you know, and he really instilled in all of us, sort of this, Just trust your own instincts and if you do anything, you do it all the way. So, if you decide to do it, you should commit yourself 100% to whatever it is. But also, please do whatever you want to do…There was never any sort of him encouraging us to pursue acting, per se. I think he’s quite surprised that this is the way it ended up, you know? But it was that kind of self-belief or just encouraging you to trust your own instincts…”

Such instincts have led Bill Skarsgard to earn acclaim well outside of his surname, most recently leading Robert Eggers’ take on Nosferatu, something nobody in his family tree – and perhaps anyone else, for that matter – could do like him. “I started finding that I was, like, OK, well, I have and I have a perspective and that is what is uniquely mine. And if I pursue that, something will come out of it that’s genuine. And I still try to live like that.” (Be sure to read our 10/10 review here.)

Who is your favorite actor in the Skarsgard family? What is their best performance to date?

The post Bill Skarsgård shares father Stellan’s advice that still encourages him appeared first on JoBlo.

Back in October, Charles Band, founder of the legendary entertainment company Full Moon, will be hosting an event called Church of Chills Live!, a revival of the classic Full Moon Roadshow experience, at the Cleveland, Ohio church that Full Moon recently purchased (and which served as the primary filming location for their latest movie, Death Streamer). There was a screening at Death Streamer, plus appearances by special guests Andrew Divoff (the Wishmaster himself) and Dana DeLorenzo of Ash vs. Evil Dead, along with Robin Sydney, Full Moon’s own “First Lady.” Now, Band has announced that a second Church of Chills event will be held on April 5th! There will be a screening of the uncut version of the original Puppet Master at this event, and genre icon Barbara Crampton, who makes a cameo appearance in Puppet Master, will be one of the special guests! Diana Prince, a.k.a. Darcy the Mail Girl from The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs, will also be in attendance, as will Robin Sydney.

Band made the Church of Chills 2 announcement in the latest episode of his Full Moon Universe YouTube show. Tickets are available for purchase at FullMoonHorror.com and go for the price of $90.

Here’s the official description: Charles Band’s “Church of Chills” returns for another round and this time it’s bigger, badder and bloodier than ever before! Join the Full Moon circus in our real deal haunted church, as Charlie tells more tales, welcomes a new wave of celebrity guests, (including THE LAST DRIVE-IN co-host Diana Prince, Full Moon queen Robin Sydney and horror icon Barbara Crampton!), blows your mind with wild on-stage antics (yes, the “Boner Meter” will return!), offers up exclusive merch and props for sale and auction and unspools the movie that started it all: 1989’s PUPPET MASTER, the RARELY seen fully UNCUT version! You won’t want to miss this insane and awesome B-movie extravaganza!

Directed by David Schmoeller from a script that was crafted by Kenneth J. Hall and Joseph G. Collodi, Puppet Master has the following synopsis: Assailed by nightmarish visions, Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) and his fellow psychics descend on the Bodega Bay Inn. There, they discover that their compatriot Neil (Jimmie F. Scaggs) has apparently committed suicide. But, as the gruesome visions continue, they sense that there’s still something sinister afoot. When they find themselves hunted by a band of homicidal marionettes created by puppeteer Andre Toulon (William Hickey), they discover they’re right.

Would you like to attend Church of Chills 2 and see a screening of Puppet Master with Barbara Crampton (not to mention Charles Band, Diana Prince, and Robin Sydney) in the room? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

The post Full Moon is having a second Church of Chills event with a Puppet Master screening and special guest Barbara Crampton appeared first on JoBlo.

An insider at The Hollywood Reporter, who I am suuuuure can be trusted 100%, recently informed the world that actor Zachary Levi was disappointed and “bitter” that he didn’t rise to Chris Evans or The Rock level of stardom after Shazam. Nobody can be sure if these were his true feelings, but to many, the science has been settled, and this is how he feels. So the dude became a Robert F Kennedy Jr. fan, which resulted in a Trump endorsement and running away from… or rather, escaping, LA. He now spends his time on a ranch in Texas, where, apparently, he is going to focus on making faith-based films. So, did they cancel Zachary Levi, or did they set him free?

As an actor, his silliness is always believable, especially when he pretty much plays himself, a lovable man-child who can do action scenes, like in the hilarious show Chuck. Zach is Chuck, and his life mirrors that of this regular guy nerd thrust into a wild and crazy world of action, thrills, controversy and all-around comical situations. And how does this man deal with such a super responsibility? Well, he tried hard to fit in but found that he just wanted to be himself. But who is the real Zachary Levi? The headlines and social media posts screamed statements akin to “Shazam Goes MAGA!” and conservative beliefs can be a big no-no in this industry, but maybe Harold and The Purple Crayon hurt him more than Donald and his red hat. Or is he still making great movies and TV?

To truly understand what happened to Zachary Levi, we must begin at the beginning. Like many in his profession, he fell in love with the craft early on. Acting was his dream, and succeeding was his mission, but it wasn’t easy for young Zachary. His mother struggled with severe mental health issues, along with his own battles with depression and anxiety, but he was eventually able to overcome that darkness through his faith. His first notable gig was on the series Less Than Perfect, which led to a decent supporting role for the young actor in Big Momma’s House 2 and a Kenan Thomson road trip flick called Weiners.

Levi would have his big break when he absolutely excelled as the lead in five seasons of the hit show Chuck starting in 2007 – which he had to turn down Broadway’s Young Frankenstein to do. Executives wanted Chris Pratt but knew Zachary Levi was a better fit after he nailed his audition. This show, Chuck, is a funny take on an everyday nerd getting sucked into a world of espionage and action. It still gives you comfortable, familiar situation comedy vibes mixed with a spy thriller, creative action camera work and fun, flashy editing that make it a fantastic little show. It embraced geek culture before it was cool. It was so beloved that after the network cancelled Chuck, the show was brought back for another season after a massive fan protest campaign. Even though the whole cast was excellent, Levi held it all together with his trademark charm and skills at spitting out fast, awkward, yet still cool dialogue. Yep, Zachary Levi was pretty much the coolest nerd on the block. He got to ham it up but never went overboard.

While working on Chuck, he found time to take over the Alvin and The Chipmunks franchise with their Squeakquel and in 2010, he provided a fan favourite vocal performance in Disney’s Tangled ( a song he sang in that movie won a Grammy). His voice acting as Flynn Rider lead to many other voice acting roles like replacing Mel Gibson in the new Chicken Run, that Night At The Museum cartoon, Robot Chicken, Family Guy, Star Wars: Detours, Joseph in The Star, Hot Dog Man in Lego Jurassic World, Fallout: New Vegas, Halo: Reach, Apollo 10 1/2, not to mention Shazam in LEGO DC Super-Villains and of course returning to play Flynn again in the Tangled TV show and the Kingdom Heart III video game. Yep, the dude has a great voice and can sing, too, taking to the Broadway stage and receiving a Tony nomination for She Loves Me in 2016.

But Shazam was not this man’s first superhero rodeo. Marvel Studio wanted Zachary to play Fandral in Thor, but that didn’t work out due to scheduling conflicts with Chuck. Then, the actor they went with had scheduling conflicts of his own, so Levi was able to step in and replace him in the sequel. Like many things, Levi has not been shy about sharing his disappointment in this squash buckler’s lack of screen time in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok. He would do some more superhero stuff with Heroes: Reborn and a fun performance in Psych: The Movie. This was all while taking on the period piece mini-series Alias Grace, in addition to starring in a low-budget zombie movie , Office Uprising. But he would impress his critics by charming us all as the love interest for one season in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Then he did something truly marvellous by playing “Captain Marvel”… who legally goes by the name Shazam now…in that movie Shazam! in 2019. That’s right, Zachary Levi was chosen to join the DCEU…when that was kinda a thing. It might be hard to remember, but at the time, Shazam took a refreshing and playful turn away from the darkness that was established by the Snyderverse. Many of us had a blast watching this, even though it was DC just trying to do the Marvel thing. Levi shines as the superhero. We never got to see Shazam fight Black Adam on screen, but we got to see them feud in real life over cameos. The Rock wouldn’t allow Justice Society characters to cameo in Shazam, which upset Levi. The Rock also didn’t want Shazam in the Black Adam movie, replacing Shazam with Superman in the end credits. Shazam was supposed to remain in James Gunn DCU, but after Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods tanked at the box office, that seems to be improbable, especially after Levi publicly shared frustration with Shazam 2 haters/critics and how the studio handled the marketing.

In between Shazam’s, he popped up in the drama The Mauritanian and took on the lead for a true-life football flick, American Underdog. After standing in front of a green screen in Spy Kids Armageddon, he once again played a man-child cuz, for some reason, they cast him as the little boy in that Harold and the Purple Crayon movie that totally bombed at the box office. So with a handful of forgettable flops, this once promising semi-A-lister turned to politics, and moved to Texas. He was off to make (for lack of a better term) non-woke independent projects by launching his own production studio to “champion original stories over Hollywood reboots”.

Then came that Trump endorsement. With most Hollywood celebrities leaning left, it was not surprising that many were shocked to hear the words “Make America Great Again” come out of Shazam’s mouth. He followed that up by saying, “Make America Healthy Again,” and that he jumped on the Trump train by way of former democrats Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. Levi has noted that he was raised with a “healthy level of distrust in the government.” Here is the thing about Levi: he goes into the liberal lion’s den and knows how to hold his own when discussing controversial political topics. And, of course, when talking about these things, one is bound to upset, confuse and anger many with information or misinformation (whichever you prefer to call it). This can result in former cast members saying things like “f*ck yourself forever” when suggesting or questioning if a friend’s cancer could have been a side effect of Covid-19 vaccinations.

Like him or not, Zachary Levi is willing to risk his career to stand up for what he believes in and will continue to speak out and share his opinions on big pharma, big politics, big Hollywood and big people who work in Hollywood. A lot of people would like to join in on the “f*ck yourself forever” train, but others respect him for simply questioning the status quo. Still, others don’t care either way and just want to watch good movies. He does have a heartwarming picture around the corner called The Unbreakable Boy and seven other projects in the works. Anything is possible, and I am damn curious to discover what the future holds for Mr. Levi.

We live in an interesting time in terms of politics, technology and the entertainment industry, with new political leaders taking office, new platforms and new ways of storytelling popping up every day, it is gonna be fascinating to see where people like Levi end up. Will there be a rise in independent cinema that he can be a part of? Will we continue to build new studios? Will movies become more or less woke? Will our nation heal from the recent political divide? And will public figures like Zachary Levi help heal or worsen it? Only time will tell, and it has been a wild ride watching this “man-child” grow up and get a little grey.

The post What Happened to Zachary Levi? appeared first on JoBlo.

So, you’ve created a legendary horror icon. What’s next? A sequel, obviously! But not just any sequel. A sequel that would conjure a brand new boogeyman. A sequel that wouldn’t actually feature Candyman at all. Nor the man who brought him to life: Tony Todd. What in the Halloween III am I talking about? You’ll find out in today’s video… what happened to Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh.

Back in the early 90s director Bernard Rose pitched the original Candyman to Propaganda Films producer Steve Golin. Golin had low expectations for the film and was unhappy from start to finish. Especially after viewing the final product. Rose would tell Bloody Disgusting that Golin “actively disliked it”. As is often the case with producers, he changed his tune once the film was a financial success. Golin told Rose, “It’s a great movie! Or… it is now”. Rose took the opportunity to ask for a straightaway sequel. It was accepted, and he was even to be paid quite a bit more than he had for Candyman (for which he still hadn’t yet been compensated). Rose would come up with an idea he called “quite radical” and it was. He decided instead of making a straight-up sequel, he wanted to make Candyman 2 about the idea of Jack the Ripper haunting London in the 90s. Rose had intended to delve further into the Clive Barker catacombs and tell a tale in part inspired by his 1984 short story Midnight Meat Train. Which was eventually made into a gnarly little Bradley Cooper horror film in 2008. Before he was “Mr. Fancy Pants”. Whereas Candyman dealt with race and mythos, this film was to tackle the issue of gender and eventually classism when we find out the rich were eating the poor using Jack the –Wait a minute where the f*ck is Tony Todd’s Candyman? Exactly. He wasn’t in it. Candyman wasn’t a part of Candyman 2, save for a part early in the script where he’s mentioned by Professor Purcell explaining that the Ripper was “like” a Candyman. The only part of that idea that made it somewhat into the final product.

To no surprise, Golin and the studio were furious at the thought of this and rejected the sequel full stop. In Rose’s defense, he felt like he earnestly killed Candyman in the first film. He really couldn’t understand at the time why no one else acknowledged this fact. He would later change his opinion on this saying he wouldn’t have attempted that idea today. He says he would have just made a straight-up sequel following the plight of Helen, played by actress Virginia Madsen and Candyman. Rose also offered his praises for what the next director hired, Bill Condon, was able to do with the project.

Actress Virginia Madsen would tell her side of the script debacle as well stating, “They originally wanted us to do Candyman 2, but they didn’t like Bernie’s idea for the sequel. They made the Candyman into a slave. Which was terrible because the Candyman was educated and raised as a free man. Bernie wanted to make him like an African American Dracula which I think was so appealing to the African American community because they finally had their own Dracula. The Candyman was a poet and smart. He wasn’t really a monster. He was sort of that classical figure. The sequel that Bernie wanted to make was a prequel where you see the Candyman and Helen fall in love. It was turned down because the studio didn’t want to do an interracial love story.”

Regardless, what ended up happening was a search for a new director. Enter Bill Condon who said, “I met with Clive Barker and he knew some of my stuff, and after many convolutions, they finally gave it to me.” Condon (who would later go on to direct several of the Twilight films and write The Greatest Showman) had, to that point, directed a string of TV movies including Murder 101 with Pierce Brosnan, and written projects like Strange Invaders, and F/X 2. Though not given writing credit for the film, Condon says he did a lot of work on the script along with the second writer of the film, Mark Kruger. The two of them working on a script originally written by The Astronaut’s Wife’s Rand Ravitch, and of course, based on the work of Clive Barker.

The story the three men ultimately conjured began with Professor Phillip Purcell (played flamboyantly again by a memorable Michael Culkin) showing up in New Orleans on his Candyman book tour. Which, I should note has a totally kick-ass cover that resembles a mirror. A mirror that he would look into at one of his book signings and speak the name ‘Candyman’ five times into. He’s then naturally gutted from groin to gullet in the bathroom of a bar. Candyman is back. The story then follows Annie and the Tarrant family as she uncovers the truth about the origin of Candyman and his deep ties to the tragedy of her family. All the while Candyman stalks her and murders those around her.

Casting for the film proved to be a challenge as the script was rejected by its fair share of the actors. Including A Nightmare on Elm Street 4’s Tuesday Knight (A huge bummer considering we could have had another “Running from this Nightmare” banger on the soundtrack. But I digress). Condon explained, stating, “There is an initial kind of resistance to sequels and horror films in general. So, I was calling favors trying to get people like Veronica Cartwright who I had worked with before. We saw a lot of actors and actresses. Kelley Rowan for the lead just popped out; she was wonderful”.

Rowan, who had previously played characters in both The Gate and Hook would more than admirably take over the mantle as the film’s lead character. But we all know who the true lead is in any Candyman movie. Screen time be damned. It’s Candyman. Tony Todd.

One can argue Farewell to the Flesh lost some things in the move from Chicago to New Orleans but one thing that always managed to stay the same was Todd’s performance. Just as haunting, demanding, and regal as he had been in the original. A true professional, Todd slashed his way through Farewell to the Flesh seemingly with ease. Solidifying his character as a horror icon that could keep coming back as long as the franchise built around him could keep the lights on. While that turned out to be a depressingly short amount of time, it doesn’t change the fact that we all know Todd would have been great in a hundred Candyman films. Regardless of their quality. Though his roles were many and his performances were often underrated, Todd managed to make every project he was in all the better for it. In the same way Nicolas Cage has been able to create a meaningful moment in each of his films regardless of the quality surrounding him; Todd has elevated all of the material we were fortunate enough to have him be a part of. Farewell to the Flesh is no different.

As an example of Todd’s deep thought and dedication to his roles, here’s what the late actor had to say about the backlash to Farewell delving into Candyman’s origins: “I insisted that we did scenes of him in his former life. Now, there are a lot of fans that don’t get that. But the ones that are intelligent do. It’s a gothic love story at its core”, Continuing, “Some people go from love to love. In Helen and Daniel’s case, it was the one and only. And to be punished for passionate love is unforgivable.”

Todd was surrounded by a large and reasonably impressive cast that included Beverly Hills Cop III’s villain, Timothy Carhart as Annie’s loveable Cajun husband. As well as an impressive performance from the aforementioned Alien actress Veronica Cartwright, who plays Annie’s dying mother with a major secret. Other notable faces surrounding Candyman as he murders freely are Spider-Man’s Bill Nunn, and Under Siege: Dark Territories’ David Gianopoulos. The film is full of noteworthy character actors including Matt Clark as someone with ties to the past who might remind you of a Cajun Joe Bob Briggs.

With the cast in shape, Condon and the crew shot equally in both Los Angeles and New Orleans, where he estimated they spent around twenty days and many nights filming. Though Condon was a fan of how Rose turned Cabrini Green into a modern haunted house, he wanted a more traditional gothic setting. He wanted to create an ambiance that resembled the older, less corporate version of Mardi Gras. So, Condon hired one of the city’s lesser-used Hollywood locals. Someone who had a warehouse full of old-school floats and decorations. Including a pan float featuring a huge penis. A penis float that, according to Condon, can be seen in the film if you’re paying close enough attention.

Condon told The Clive Barker Cast that they worked with a company called Introvision on several difficult and practical Special Effects moments. He estimated that roughly 40% of the film was storyboarded because of the difficulty of these effects. Including the slave quarters being demolished in the climax of the film. It wasn’t just special effects headaches that made bringing Farewell to the Flesh to life challenging. The crew were continuously running out of extras because the New Orleans environment kept beckoning them to imbibe in the fun of the city. The extras would start strong then as the night went on disappear into the many surrounding bars unlikely to return. Condon elaborated, “By the end of the meal break there’d be no extras left. That became a big problem for us. People are very dedicated to having a good time down there.”

Then, of course, there were the actual bees. Of which, Condon lamented, “It may have been true they had very few stings in the first film, but in ours, I think there were unfortunately plenty of stings. It was never pleasant, especially for poor Tony Todd and (stunt coordinator and Tony Todd double) Billy Washington”. Despite the challenges, they were at least able to give Candyman a wardrobe upgrade. Condon noted that they gave Candyman a “sleeker, sexier kind of look than the rat fur that he was wearing on his collar in the first movie. We gave him more of an Armani kind of look.”

The upgraded titular character would finally be unleashed on the world when Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh swarmed to theaters nearly three years after its predecessor on March 17th, 1995. With an unknown exact budget (IMDB estimates an unconfirmed budget of around $6 million), the film made just about that amount in its opening weekend. Then closed out at nearly $14 million by the end of its theatrical run. Whether or not this was enough to turn a profit is probably answered by the fact that the sequel, Candyman 3: Day of the Dead headed direct to video.

The reviews couldn’t have helped with most critics praising Todd but seeing the film as another unnecessary gore-fueled horror sequel. Condon didn’t agree and noted that critics did realize what the film was trying to say with its deeper themes surrounding racism, violence, and love. But simply disregarded them because it was a genre sequel stating, “It’s interesting to note that there were critics who would acknowledge all of the subtexts, but would say, ‘Surely, they weren’t thinking about that because it’s just a slasher movie.”

To throw some fuel on the fire, some of the film’s marketing had landed the production in hot water. A poster marketing the film that featured Candyman standing behind his victim caused the production to be accused of trying to profit off the ongoing OJ Simpson publicity. Because it featured a black man stalking a white woman (it’s easy to forget ridiculous feigned outrage existed long before Twitter). Clive Barker responded to this accusation directly on a talk show when a call-in viewer asked about it. The horror legend responded, “I thought it was nonsense. We made this movie a long time ago. We made the movie that this is a sequel to a long time ago. There was no association whatsoever in our heads. I felt it more reflective of America’s present preoccupation with the trial than about the advertising.”

Barker seemed at least somewhat happy with the film itself, saying on the same show, “It has a lot of damn fine acting and good storytelling. It feels to me as though horror has become debased in the last few years and when we talk about horror movies recently we think about mindless pieces of bloodletting and we’ve tried to do something better than that.”

I’d agree there are certainly things to enjoy when it comes to this sequel. Another underrated Tony Todd performance we’ll be able to forever enjoy; A horror movie that utilizes the unique setting of New Orleans and some decent kills. Arguably the best sequel in the franchise. That, my friends, is what happened to Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh.

A couple of the previous episodes of What Happened to This Horror Movie? can be seen below. To see more, head over to our JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – and subscribe while you’re there!

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Mark Ruffalo is not an actor who is notoriously known for going method in his performances, but one night, he would unintentionally add more realism to his work. The Avengers actor told an anecdote years ago on The Graham Norton Show on BBC where he explained, “There was a play that I did where I smoked a joint in the first scene. Of course, there was a very naughty young actor I was in the play with. On the opening night with all the critics, he slipped a real joint onto the prop table. Between the two of us, we smoked a giant blunt onstage. … But at the end of the play, I got the best reviews of my entire career.”

The culprit that Ruffalo neglected to mention in the story was Succession and A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin. According to Variety, Culkin confirmed the story of what happened during this production. The actor told The Guardian,

I was 17 and stupid. I’m like, ‘I thought this was a good prank. I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’ But actually, they loved it. Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years. The second half’s going to be so much fun.’ There was this other actor who had never smoked pot in her life. She goes, ‘Is this what being high is? This is lovely.’ And then Phyllis Newman comes in and goes, ‘I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling.’”

The play in which all actors fell prey to Culkin’s prank was Playwright Horizons’ production of James Lapine’s The Moment When back in 2000. “The stage manager comes stomping in and goes, ‘I don’t care whose it is, or what happened, but Kieran, give me the joint.’ I sheepishly handed her the roach and she said, ‘Ruin your life on your own time,’” Culkin continued. “I know, I know. But I was young. I’m 42 now. I know better. I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage.”

Culkin is currently getting accolades for his latest performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain. Our own Chris Bumbray praised Culkin in his review, saying, “Culkin has been long overdue for some recognition, and it’s nice to see him getting roles outside of Succession that prove what a first-class actor he is.”

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The next addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to reach theatres on February 14, 2025 – and when this one reaches the big screen, we’re going to get to see the Red Hulk give the new Captain America (Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon) a rough time. The marketing for the film is building up that competition in a major way. We’ve seen glimpses of the fight in the trailers, the posters have shown Red Hulk holding and punching Captain America’s shield – and now Red Hulk theatre standees have started showing up in cinemas, while one of the popcorn buckets that have been made to promote Captain America: Brave New World features the Red Hulk tearing Cap’s shield in half! You can take a look at the standee and the popcorn bucket in the embeds below.

Here’s the official information on Captain America: Brave New World, straight from Marvel: Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. Harrison Ford makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as newly-elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, a role originated by the late William Hurt. Ross and Sam have a bit of a history: In his previous role as Secretary of State, Ross was responsible for arresting Sam and his fellow Avengers during the events of Captain America: Civil War. Now as president, Ross is eager to work with Sam, hoping to make Captain America an official military position. But that tentative alliance is jeopardized when Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident, with friend and retired super-soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as the prime suspect. Sam’s investigation send him on a dangerous chase, and (leading to) a deadly showdown and a tease of the menacing Red Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as former Air Force lieutenant Joaquin Torres, who’s picked up Sam’s old wings and taken on the role of Falcon. Tim Blake Nelson is also back as Samuel Sterns, AKA The Leader, appearing in the MCU for the first time since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. New to the cast is Shira Haas, who joins as Ruth Bat-Seraph. A former Black Widow, Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross. Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Xosha Roquemore also star. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

What do you think of the Red Hulk theatre standee and popcorn bucket that have been created for Captain America: Brave New World? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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