Candyman is one of the most celebrated horror classics. It got a brand new film that deals with the same theme, but offers a new spin on the iconic story. However, Candyman shares a lot of similarities to other films, ones that use they use urban legends as an inspiration source.
Such films are effective because they frighten the audience by introducing them to stories people used to believe — or still do. Other films also work with the notion of the characters bringing evil to themselves, like they do in Candyman. Those who enjoyed Candyman's story have a lot of other great horror films to choose from, such as the ones below.
10 Nightmares (1983)
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Some of the best urban legend-inspired movies are anthologies that offer multiple stories. Nightmares, a lesser-known horror piece, features four different narratives.
One of them is about a smoker and a serial killer, while the second one is about a young man who's becoming addicted to playing video games. The third story is about a priest who lost his faith and decides to leave his monastery, and the final story focuses on a family fighting against a large rat living in their house. Urban legends are often frightening, and both Nightmares and Candyman used them effectively to scare the audience.
9 Urban Legend (1998)
A lot of audiences might have forgotten this film's very existence, since it never became one of the most popular horror films of the 1990s. However, as its title suggests, it uses an urban legend just like Candyman does.
A student named Natalie and her friends learn of an urban legend about a killer who killed a group of students at their university 25 years ago. Natalie suspects the killer isn't gone, and it turns out later she's right. For horror fans who want to learn more about slasher movies of the 1990s, Urban Legend is one of those hidden films that deserves more attention.
8 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Not every horror movie manages to convince the audience its monster is real. Yet, some believed Candyman was a real figure, as well as the Blair Witch when the film first came out. The creators used online marketing to help make the audience think that the actors who performed in this movie truly vanished.
Another aspect the films share is that they don't show the antagonist right away. Instead, they focus on the build-up before the evil arrives, increasing the buildup and ultimately making the scares more powerful.
7 Cabin In The Woods (2012)
Cabin in the Woods is one of the best-known horror films of the last decade. However, it has the potential to surprise the viewers who haven't seen it yet. It appears to be a usual slasher, movie but turns out to be something else.
In both Candyman and in this film, the heroes are responsible for bringing evil to themselves. When this movie's characters arrive in the titular cabin, they (somehow) think it a good idea to explore strange things in the cellar, which brings forward the murderous creatures who haunt them.
6 It Follows (2014)
Evil in horror films can take on many great forms. What connects the antagonists in Candyman and in It Follows is their persistence. This film tells the story of young people pursued by a relentless creature who constantly walks in their tracks, and doesn't stop till it kills them.
Once again, the main heroine could have spared herself the trouble had she been more careful, but she wasn't aware of what was happening before it was too late. Both Candyman and this film's monster remain mysterious for a long time, and it's up to the heroes to come up with a way to defeat them. Except, there might not be a way at all.
5 Krampus (2015)
Each country has different myths and urban legends, and Krampus is a European version of the devil. In this film, he pays his visit to a family who argues over Christmas and whose members stop believing in the power of Santa Claus.
Just like in Candyman, Krampus is mysterious and all too powerful. The film stars talented actors, such as Toni Collette and Adam Scott. It makes for a compelling Christmas horror since it doesn't end on the happiest of notes.
4 Slender Man (2018)
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Laughing at urban legends and trying to prove they're not real is never a good idea in horror films. In this case, a group of friends who live in a small town decides to prove that Slender Man is just a myth, but they're in for an unexpected surprise.
Similar to Candyman, Slender Man builds on the uncertainty surrounding the titular monster. It's unclear whether it's even possible to defeat Slender Man, and if so, how to do it. This makes the heroes' journey all the more compelling.
3 Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019)
Many horror creatures start just as that: scary stories. After all, it takes someone's belief in them to give them credence, to bring them to life. In this case, a group of teenagers makes the deadly mistake of opening a mysterious book in an abandoned house.
Just like those who pronounce Candyman's name, the heroes of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark bring misfortune upon themselves. The film works with multiple scary stories, so even if one doesn't frighten the viewer, it's possible another one will.
2 The Empty Man (2020)
The recent urban legend horror film The Empty Man flew mostly under the radar. Like many horror narratives, it take place in a small city where nothing strange is happening until people start dying. A former policeman tries to discover what's going when several teenagers go missing.
As the title itself suggests, The Empty Man uses a similar recipe as Candyman: the presence of an unknown force that haunts the city. However, most people remain unaware of its existence and threat.
1 Boys from County Hell (2020)
Boys from County Hell premiered only recently. Many American viewers may have missed, it since it takes place in a small Irish village. The village harbors a local legend about an old vampire sleeping under it. When the vampire wakes up, people start dying.
The notion of a legend coming true is an important for the narratives of both Boys from County Hell and Candyman. Even though multiple vampire films have been made over the decades, this one offers a new interpretation of the mythical monsters. It suggests the unique idea that a vampire can drink its victims' blood even without approaching them closely — making them much more terrifying.