MM16 - City Frights: Wolfen, Candyman, and the Urban Wilderness
MM16 - City Frights: Wolfen, Candyman, and the Urban WildernessDigest
This podcast delves into the urban horror subgenre, focusing on two films: "Wolfen" (1981) and "Candyman" (1992). "Wolfen," set in 1980s New York City, uses a pack of wolves to represent the hidden wilderness within cities and the consequences of gentrification. The film's gritty portrayal of urban decay and its use of real wolves create a sense of realism and terror. "Candyman," based on a Clive Barker short story, explores the urban legend of a hook-handed spirit in Chicago, using the Candyman myth to critique gentrification and social inequality. The film delves into themes of poverty, racism, and the power of belief, highlighting the seductive and terrifying nature of the Candyman character. The podcast also analyzes the ending of "Candyman," exploring the complex relationship between Helen and Candyman and the themes of love, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of violence. Finally, the hosts discuss their favorite and scariest moments from the horror movies they've covered in their "Goldie Scream" series, highlighting the impact of specific scenes and performances, including the dinner scene in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and Brad Dourif's performance in "Exorcist 3."
Outlines
Urban Horror: Wolfen and Candyman
This episode explores two horror films, "Wolfen" (1981) and "Candyman" (1992), that delve into the anxieties of urban life. The episode examines how these films use the supernatural to comment on social issues like gentrification, poverty, and the legacy of racism.
Wolfen: The Wolves of Wall Street
The episode dives into "Wolfen," a film set in 1980s New York City, where a series of brutal murders are attributed to a pack of wolves. The episode highlights the film's use of real wolves, its gritty portrayal of urban decay, and its exploration of the city's hidden wilderness.
Candyman: The Bogeyman of Chicago
The episode shifts to "Candyman," a film based on a Clive Barker short story, which explores the urban legend of a hook-handed spirit in Chicago. The episode discusses the film's themes of poverty, racism, and the power of belief, and how it uses the Candyman myth to critique gentrification and social inequality.
Candyman's Ending: A Twisted Love Story
The podcast dives into the ending of the 1992 film Candyman, analyzing the complex relationship between Helen and Candyman. It explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of violence.
Scariest Movie Moments and Performances
The hosts discuss their favorite and scariest moments from the horror movies they've covered in their "Goldie Scream" series. They highlight the impact of specific scenes and performances, including the dinner scene in Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Brad Dourif's performance in Exorcist 3.
Keywords
Wolfen
A 1981 horror film directed by Michael Wadley, set in New York City, where a pack of wolves terrorizes the city. The film explores themes of urban decay, gentrification, and the hidden wilderness within cities.
Candyman
A 1992 horror film directed by Bernard Rose, based on a Clive Barker short story. The film explores the urban legend of a hook-handed spirit in Chicago, and its themes of poverty, racism, and the power of belief.
Urban Horror
A subgenre of horror that explores the anxieties and fears of urban life. These films often feature supernatural elements, but they also use these elements to comment on social issues like poverty, crime, and gentrification.
Gentrification
The process of renovating and improving a rundown area, often displacing the original residents and changing the character of the neighborhood. Both "Wolfen" and "Candyman" explore the negative consequences of gentrification.
Practical Effects
Special effects that are created using physical objects and techniques, rather than computer-generated imagery. "Wolfen" is notable for its use of real wolves, which creates a sense of realism and terror.
Gothic Eroticism
A subgenre of horror that combines elements of gothic literature with erotic themes. "Candyman" is a good example of this subgenre, with its focus on the seductive and terrifying nature of the Candyman character.
Woke
A term used to describe someone who is aware of and sensitive to social issues, particularly those related to race and gender. Both "Wolfen" and "Candyman" can be considered "woke" films for their critiques of social inequality.
Q&A
How do "Wolfen" and "Candyman" use the supernatural to comment on social issues?
Both films use supernatural elements to explore the anxieties of urban life and critique social issues. "Wolfen" uses the wolves to represent the hidden wilderness within cities and the consequences of gentrification, while "Candyman" uses the Candyman myth to explore the legacy of racism and the impact of poverty.
What are some of the key themes explored in "Wolfen"?
"Wolfen" explores themes of urban decay, gentrification, and the hidden wilderness within cities. The film's setting in the South Bronx, which was undergoing a period of economic decline and social unrest, highlights the city's stark inequalities and the ways in which the city's forgotten spaces can become breeding grounds for something dangerous.
How does "Candyman" critique gentrification and social inequality?
"Candyman" critiques gentrification by showing how the displacement of residents from Cabrini Green, a public housing project, creates a sense of fear and vulnerability. The film also explores the ways in which the Candyman myth is used to silence and marginalize the voices of the poor and marginalized.
What makes the ending of Candyman so impactful?
The ending of Candyman is impactful because it explores the complex relationship between Helen and Candyman, highlighting the themes of love, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of violence. It also features a powerful visual metaphor of Candyman's love and pain through the image of bees pouring out of his mouth.
What are some of the scariest moments in the horror movies you've covered?
The hosts highlight the hospital scene in Exorcist 3, the dinner scene in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the entire film Candyman as some of the scariest moments they've encountered. They also praise Brad Dourif's performance in Exorcist 3 and the overall enjoyment of Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.
Show Notes
In this final episode of this year’s Ghoulvie Screamset, Will & Hesse take a look at Michael Wadleigh’s “Wolfen” (1981) and Bernard Rose’s “Candyman” (1992). Two films taking advantage of real urban environments the horrors of city life, from the intrusion of primordial natural evil in Wolfen, to manifesting the everyday horror of urban poverty in Candyman.
Thanks for listening to our second outing of Movie Mindset! Will & Hesse will be back next year with a full season 2 of the series. Let us know if there's anything you're dying for us to cover, and stay watchin’ everybody.
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