The original movie — which is inspired by legendary horror author Clive Barker’s short story “The Forbidden” — follows graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) who explores the story of the Candyman for her thesis on urban legends.
The legend states that the Candyman — who, in life, was African American artist Daniel Robitaille who was lynched for falling in love and fathering a child with a White woman in 1890 — is summoned after his name is said out loud five times in a mirror.
DaCosta admits she has been afraid of uttering the words “Candyman” ever since she saw the first film when she was younger.
“I remember hearing about it, always got dared to it, still haven’t, and then eventually I saw the movie and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s Candyman, this is what everyone’s talking about.’ “
