Friend of the Gutter Michelle Kisner writes about Nia DaCosta’s Candyman (2021)! “This new take on Candyman is a direct response to the first film, a mirror reflection running parallel with the themes of the original work. Where the 1992 film is from the viewpoint of a white woman, DaCosta’s version centers everything on the black experience–instead of looking in, we are now looking out. It changes the dynamic quite a bit, giving more edge and bite to the social commentary. Cabrini Green has changed over the years and so has society, some things are better, but many things have not improved. DaCosta explores the new challenges inherent in modern race relations like authenticity, cultural appropriation, and police brutality.”