Nia DaCosta is continuing history-making winning streaks for Black female directors. The film was originally slated to be released in June 2020 as part of the re-emergence of Black Horror but was delayed and rescheduled thanks to Covid. Now with its release, and despite initial low projections for the movie according to Forbes, "Candyman" opening weekend grossed nearly $25 million, and in the age of covid, is one of the few films to release directly to theaters first. This feat makes DaCosta the first African American female director to have a #1 opening film.
DaCosta has also previously made headlines after being named Marvel's first African American female director in the franchise being tapped to direct the next Captain Marvel film. A choice that may prove lucrative for Marvel in the future as the hiring marked the largest budget to ever be handed to a Black female director.
Money aside, reviews are also going positive for the film when it comes to critics. For its opening weekend, IMDB gives the film a rating of 8.3/10 and is certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes. The film stars Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Vanessa Williams, and Tony Todd and serves as more of a continuation, not shying away from the roots of the original.
As a fan of horror, I am more than ecstatic to finally see Candyman back on screen, but surpassing its film peers such as Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street, both of which have suffered the curse of the reboot. The space of horror films centered on the Black experience is still rare, and it's always refreshing when the horror doesn't have to lay into traumatic images. Furthermore, DaCosta deserves high praise and I'm excited to see what she's going to do with her next big venture Captain Marvel.
What are your thoughts on the new film? Have you seen it yet? Do you plan to see it?
