African American Horror

Bernard Rose followed his moody fantasy-thriller Paperhouse (1988) with this modern horror tale, based on Clive Barker's short story "The Forbidden". Compiling a thesis on urban legends, University of Illinois in Chicago graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) becomes aware of the prevalent superstition surrounding the legend of "Candyman" (Tony Todd)--a hook-wielding phantom who will appear if his name is recited five times into a mirror--among the tenants of Chicago's Cabrini Green project. A senior professor, hearing of Helen's research, explains the historical basis for the legend, detailing how Candyman is believed to be the vengeful spirit of a former slave who, though initially respected in academia, was set upon and mutilated by an angry mob when accused of taking a white mistress. When the clinically-detached Helen flaunts her intellectual confidence by reciting Candyman's name five times, she sets in motion an inevitable series of supernatural events -- culminating in a series of grisly killings, after which Helen is invariably found holding the bloody murder weapon. Though she is captured by the police, it becomes evident to Helen that Candyman is guiding her fate every step of the way. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

This sequel to director Bernard Rose's superb, metaphorical Candyman is a more straightforward Gothic horror project, discarding any association with the events of the previous film (which was based on the short story "The Forbidden" by horror surrealist Clive Barker) aside from the title entity, played again by the imposing Tony Todd. A melancholy but extremely deadly ghost, Candyman is revealed -- in a compelling sequence of flashbacks -- as the vengeful spirit of Daniel Robitaille, a black portraitist in post-Civil War Louisiana who was set upon and horribly mutilated by an angry white mob in retaliation for his affair with a plantation owner's daughter. In present-day New Orleans, at the height of Mardi Gras festivities (the film's title refers to the literal translation of the Latin "Carnival"), Candyman walks the realm of the undead, with a hook in place of the hand he lost to the lynch mob, waiting to be summoned by the recitation of his name five times into a mirror. The latest victims of his evisceration skills include members of the Tarrant family, with young schoolteacher Annie (Kelly Rowan) next in line. Her family's connection with the Candyman legend is eventually revealed when Annie visits the family estate to uncover the link between her ancestors and Daniel Robitaille himself. This is a well-executed horror film, with fine performances and good use of the subtle menace underlying the Mardi Gras ambience, but the deft hand of Barker is clearly absent, leaving a standard horror plot without the mythical resonance of the original. The chilling Philip Glass score is a definite plus, though. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Comedian Eddie Murphy tried something different with this 1995 film that he produced and co-wrote, enlisting veteran horror director Wes Craven to give the story some chills. The uneven comedy-horror tale features Murphy as a vampire named Maximillian who arrives in Brooklyn on a ship full of people who have been brutally murdered. One of the corpses on board closely resembles that of Rita (Angela Bassett), one of the detectives assigned to the case. Maximillian targets Rita, hoping to get a dance with her that will bring her under his control. He enlists the help of a worker named Julius (Kadeem Hardison), biting his neck and turning him into a slowly decaying ghoul. Also seeking to romance Rita, though in a less sinister way, is her longtime detective partner Justice (Allen Payne). Maximillian uses his supernatural powers to interfere with the budding romance. Murphy also plays a preacher and an Italian gangster in this bizarre film. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Everyone's favorite bloodthirsty Irish gnome invades the world of hip-hop in the fifth film in the Leprechaun series. Stray Bullet, Butch, and Postmaster P are three young rappers trying to raise money for their first record. They break into the studio of powerful producer Mack Daddy (Ice-T), hoping to steal something salable or do some recording. Instead, they discover the secret behind Mack Daddy's multi-platinum success: a magic flute. The rappers take the flute with them, and their careers take a dramatic upswing; but Mack Daddy wants the flute back, and he has reinforcements: the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis), who has an agreement with Mack Daddy and isn't happy when people cross him. Leprechaun in the Hood was directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, who also directed the third and fourth Leprechaun films. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cinematographer turned director Ernest Dickerson returns to the horror genre with this African-American, urban twist on haunted house stories. Rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg makes his debut as a leading man in the title role of Jimmy Bones, stylish protector of a thriving inner-city neighborhood in 1979. When he refuses to knuckle under to powerful interests bent on introducing crack cocaine into his turf, Bones is betrayed by some of his own people, murdered, and buried in the basement of his gothic home. More than two decades later, the neighborhood is a drug and crime-infested nightmare, and Bones' decrepit, allegedly haunted domicile is about to become a hip-hop dance club. Although Bones' one-time girlfriend, Pearl (Pam Grier), and his right-hand man, Shotgun (Ronald Selmour), have remained loyal to his memory, the children of his traitor, Jeremiah (Clifton Powell), are the principal owners of the new club. They become the primary targets when Bones' vengeful spirit rises up to exact bloody retribution for past misdeeds. Bones (2001) co-stars Michael T. Weiss, Bianca Lawson, and Khalil Kain. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

The sixth movie in the seemingly endless Leprechaun series finds the title character revisiting the territory he menaced in the fifth outing. This time around, a group of inner-city friends go from rags to riches when they stumble upon some treasures. Little do they know that the booty belongs to the terrifying little green man and he wants it back. Decked out in bling-bling and smoking chronically, Leprechaun dispenses with the unsuspecting pals one by one. Warwick Davis once again reprises the title role, which he's assumed throughout the series, and instead of Ice-T, who co-starred in Leprechaun in the Hood, another rapper, Sticky Fingaz of Onyx, is onboard for this blood bath. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Timothy Wayne Folsome's urban horror film Cutthroat Alley features a serial killer who slits the throats of each of his victims. The film turns when it seems as if someone is out to murder the murderer. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Fear holds the streets in a cold grip of death in this blood-curdling trilogy of terror from filmmakers J.D. Hawkins and Frank Corey Shields. In "The Reckoning," a young schoolgirl named Jessica suffers a horrible tragedy at the hands of her classmates before seeking vengeance from beyond the grave. "The Clinic" follows a young mother-to-be named Jaleesa whose horrifying visions give her second thoughts about receiving an abortion. And when a college student is raped during a mid-term party on campus, you can be sure that there will be hell to pay as the trilogy winds to a close on "Graduation Day." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A cop transforms himself into a creature of the night to defeat evil in this blend of action and horror. Derek Washington (Ron Hall) is a police detective who has battled his fear of blood (as well as the troubling memory of his father's death at the hands of criminals) to become a rising star on the force. Derek is attempting to bring down counterfeiting kingpin Gustoff Slovak when a bust turns into a massacre that reveals Slovak's secret -- he's actually a vampire, and the leader of a cult of the undead. Determined to bring Slovak's unholy reign to an end, Derek seeks out Master Kao, a legendary vampire hunter, and attempts to learn the ways of his foe, ultimately coming to the disturbing conclusion that he will have to become a vampire if he is to defeat Slovak. Vampire Assassins also stars Gerald Okamura and Rudy Ray Moore. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

When a meteorite containing a zombie-spawning spore crashes in the City of Angels, the survivors of the impact must put aside their differences in order to fend off the flesh-eating masses in this tale of urban apocalypse starring Phantasm's Reggis Banister. As two rival gangs converge on an empty Los Angeles warehouse, the stage is set for violence and mayhem. But this isn't any ordinary gang fight, because these thugs have an unearthly taste for human flesh. Now, if they have any hope of fending off the advancing horde of the undead, the toughest gangsters in the neighborhood will have to put their differences with the LAPD aside long enough to aim for the head and formulate a solid escape plan. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide