Cinema Scholars presents a review of the new horror anthology Bad Candy, directed by Scott B. Hansen and starring Zack Galligan, Corey Taylor, and Derek Russo. Dread, Epic Pictures’ horror brand, will release the film in select theaters on September 10, 2021, with the VOD and Blu-ray release to follow later.
Introduction
It’s almost Fall, the time of year when some people start complaining about Halloween decorations in stores appearing too early, while others rejoice at the first hints of their favorite time of year. In the movie universe, early September is also when theaters and streaming platforms begin to pack their slates with an onslaught of new spooky selections.
It’s curious that of all film genres, horror seems to be the only category (save for some documentaries) that has fully embraced the anthology format. Perhaps it’s due to the popularity of spine-tingling short stories. Maybe it’s a great way for filmmakers to make good use of the smaller films they made before graduating. Or could it be that the collective format is a great way for producers to combine the incredible talents of several filmmakers at once?
From Stephen King and George Romero’s Creepshow to more modern versions like Trick or Treat and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, the horror anthology has become somewhat of a sub-genre on its own. In the latest iteration of this well-worn category, the new chiller Bad Candy, from director Scott B. Hansen, spooks audiences with multiple spine-tingling tales.
The Premise
The film begins with a classic “wrap-around” story that features two DJs in the middle of broadcasting their popular Chilly Billy segment on Psychotronic Radio 66.6 FM in the storybook town of New Salem. Chilly Billy (Corey Taylor of the band Slipknot) takes calls while his sidekick Paul (Zach Galligan from Gremlins) chimes in from time to time in typical talk radio fashion. As the hosts share their commentary between sinister stories, it slowly becomes clear that their narrative isn’t as benign as it seems.
Does such an esoteric station exist? Do they churn out shocking content regularly or just on Halloween? How many terrible legends does New Salem have? Does anyone get the reference to Michael Weldon’s cult classic catalog The Psychotronic Video Guide? Those who are already having trouble with such questions should go ahead and check their disbelief at the door, because Bad Candy is full of ridiculous fun surprises within a simple premise that sets the perfect stage for a bunch of delightfully horrifying tales.
Chapter One
The initial story follows a young girl, Kyra, who joins her pals at their clubhouse for some pre-trick or treating costume prep. Just as they are about to set out on their yearly sugar odyssey, Kyra gets the call from her stepfather that she is to return home immediately, abruptly ending her fun for the night. It becomes immediately obvious that Kyra’s stepfather is not the nice kind as he locks her away in her bedroom for the night.
In a fit of utter disgust, Kyra takes to her only solace, her trusty sketch pad and pencil. As the emboldened young girl begins to unleash her imagination in a flurry of scribbles on the page, her creepy creations begin to come to life, literally. Soon, she and her new accomplices exact their revenge on her evil stepfather.
The whimsical tale is wonderfully embellished with some pretty great low-budget CGI and practical effects that strike just the right balance between silly and scary. The story also serves as a sort of touchstone for the rest of the film, as Kyra may-or-may-not have unleashed one of the film’s main villains.
Highlights
From here, the stories start to unfold in rapid succession. First, the neighborhood creep who hides razors in his treats gets a taste of his own medicine. Then there’s the metal show drug dealer who gets more than he bargained for. Next, a morgue worker’s penchant for necrophilia catches up with her.
Perhaps the most impressive scares (and chuckles) come in an entry about a crew of veterans who gather once a year to quell their brother in arms’ government-engineered bloodlust. Once a year the fellow vets round up a selection of unwitting victims who are then hunted down by their buddy who has transformed into…to spoil this one is to ruin the fun, but let it be known that the creature work in this Bad Candy segment rivals that of any CGI spectacle in recent memory, with a seamless marriage of practical and digital imagery.
Analysis
While Bad Candy isn’t a slick, big-budget studio production, like many recent horror anthologies, director Scott B. Hansen seems to have turned those limitations into opportunities for creativity with his unique and believably freaky storytelling style. Some of Bad Candy’s rough edges make the film even more endearing while enhancing the rawness of the best scares. This accessibility, paired with gorgeous Halloween-heavy production design and a sophisticated eye in each vignette, helps the movie leap over any major low-budget pitfalls.
Though some of the stories seem to be connected, incidentally and not, other threads between stories end up as loose ends that never quite tie together. Thankfully, this doesn’t diminish the overall satisfying collection of tales. Perhaps additional viewings will reveal a more common thread, but aside from the wrap-around narrative, someone looking for a solid through-line might find themselves somewhat lost.
As in many of Bad Candy’s predecessors, most of the players that meet a terrifying end seem to have it coming. Though there are a few instances of senseless collateral damage. Presenting the doomed characters as less-than-innocent keeps the film from feeling too mean-spirited. Few things hit better than sweet redemption. Bad Candy does itself a favor by capitalizing on the “bad guys get it in the end” narrative trope that helps justify a fair amount of gore.
Performances
Bad Candy’s segments feature a wide range of terrific performances from an army of unknowns. However, special kudos go to Haley Leary as the necrophiliac morgue worker who makes crossing such an unimaginable line seem even a tiny bit palatable. Leary’s command of her character’s cringe is most commendable, and the main reason why this chapter succeeds.
Providing star power in the film by way of the wrap-around Psychotronic Radio segment, Zach Galligan and Corey Taylor hold their own as local horror honchos. Galligan keeps it fairly low-key as sidekick Paul. Just when it seems like he might play it cool for the entire duration, a shift in his character’s arc finally reveals Galligan’s full spectrum with a terrifying turn. Good timing for Bad Candy too, as Galligan has been enjoying the throwback spotlight in a recent commercial reteaming the actor with a certain Mogwai.
Anyone doubting that Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor can hold his own in a horror film will be pleasantly surprised by his natural performance as Chilly Billy. Then again, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise considering the musician-turned-actor has spent much of his career clad in grotesque costumes and masks in a particularly performative brand of shock metal. Though his performance early in the film is pretty standard DJ fare, Taylor gets to shine later on when his character’s narrative starts to unravel, proving that his talents aren’t just limited to macabre theatrics.
Conclusion
For Halloween hounds looking for a fun flick to fill their October (or September!) nights, Bad Candy is full of satisfying fun-size treats. From killer clowns and pimp fights, to ghost hunters and tricksters-turned-to-trinkets, Bad Candy has something for every horror lover.
Dread, Epic Pictures’ horror brand, will release Bad Candy in select theaters on September 10, 2021. The film then drops on VOD this September 14 with the Blu-ray debut to follow later on October 12, 2021.
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