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EVENT SCHEDULE
6:00pm: Meet & Greet + Signing #1
7:00pm: Pre-Screening Q&A
7:15pm: Candyman screening
9:00pm: Post-Screening Q&A
9:15-10pm: Murder Mingle + Signing #2 in The Lounge
Ticketing
$14 /General Admission
$10 /FACETS Members
Buy Tickets
EVENT PROGRAMMER
“Candyman is an upper-register horror item that delivers the requisite shocks and gore but doesn’t cheat or cop out.” – Oliver Lyttelton, IndieWire
“What I liked was a horror movie that was scaring me with ideas and gore, instead of simply with gore.” – Roger Ebert
SAY “CANDYMAN” FIVE TIMES IN THE MIRROR, CHICAGO!
On Wednesday, October 30, FACETS brings Candyman (1992) back to the big screen, filmed right here in Chicago. Plus, special guest Johnny Westmoreland, who played Samuel Evans—one of the Candymen in the 2021 sequel—will be in attendance!
In the film, graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a Near North Side housing project. As she digs into the urban legend of the Candyman (Tony Todd), a hook-handed figure blamed for a recent murder, Helen soon realizes that this horrifying legend may be all too real. A mysterious presence begins stalking her, and she is pulled deeper into the supernatural terror that haunts the neighborhood.
Uniquely among 20th-century slasher films, Candyman balances visceral horror with sharp intelligence. With iconic horror tropes like the Final Girl, urban legends, and a supernatural boogeyman, the film delivers the blood and brutality genre fans crave. But it also goes further, offering a deeper commentary on race, class, and the trauma represented in urban myths, raising Candyman into the realm of what is now known as “elevated horror.”
Inspired by a short story by English horror author Clive Barker, Candyman was originally set in contemporary Liverpool, focusing on the class system. Director Bernard Rose reimagined the story for Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects, shifting its focus to racial and social inequality in the U.S. This “outsider” perspective allowed Candyman to explore universal themes of generational trauma, fate, and the enduring power of urban legends, giving the film a haunting, multi-layered narrative beyond its slasher roots.
At once a brutal reckoning with systemic racism and a tragic story of star-crossed lovers, Candyman continues to influence the horror genre today. Experience its terrifying tale and powerful social commentary—only at FACETS this Halloween!
As a part of this special event, we invite ticket holders to join us for an exclusive Meet & Greet, signing, and two short Q&A’s with Johnny Westmoreland, hand-picked as one of the Candymen by Jordan Peele for the 2021 sequel. He’ll share behind-the-scenes stories, discuss his personal connection to the character, and explore how his contributions to Candyman expanded the legend’s legacy and enduring impact in modern horror.
Bernard Rose, USA, 1992, 98 minutes, DCP
MEET & GREET + Q&A
We are so excited to welcome local actor Johnny Westmoreland, who played Samuel Evans, one of the Candymen in the 2021 sequel to FACETS for an exclusive Meet & Greet and Q&A! Mr. Westmoreland will appear at 6pm for a Meet & Greet and signing before the screening, and event programmer Stephanie Sack will host 2 short Q&A’s before and after the film where he will speak to his experiences before, during, and after the shoot; his perception of the character’s longevity; and how he feels about his contributions to the Candyman’s legacy.
JOHNNY WESTMORELAND
Making his debut as a Special Guest in Chicago, Johnny Westmoreland of 2021’s Candyman plays the first Candyman, Samuel Evans, from the 1950s. A longtime resident of Oak Park, Westmoreland grew up in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. He’s a multihyphenate artist who also plays the guitar and harmonica and has been a motivational speaker for nearly 25 years throughout the Midwest. Recently, he appeared in The Chi in 2019 as the main character’s father. That led to roles on 2016’s Fatal Attraction and 2019’s Easy on Netflix. His film credits include Ebola, Shanda Did What? and Festival. Additionally, he has appeared in numerous theater productions.
MEMBER TICKETING
If you are a FACETS Film Club member, you and your guests may use your complimentary free tickets for this screening. Please note that walking up with a ticket does not guarantee a seat in the case of a sell-out. We invite you to reserve your complimentary seats by contacting FACETS Help Desk (phone 773-281-9075, ext. 1 or email help@facets.org). After advance reservation, the free ticket(s) must be brought and redeemed at the FACETS Box Office when you arrive for the screening.
