The 2021 reboot of Candyman is already winning praise from LGBT+ horror fans for its surprisingly progressive treatment of a gay couple.
The film – dubbed a sequel to the 1992 film of the same name – hit cinemas on Friday (27 August) and immediately won critical acclaim for its deft handling of systemic racism in America.
But one of the less remarked upon aspects of the film is that it features a prominent gay couple. Misfits star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett stars as Troy Cartwright, the gay brother of Brianna (Teyonah Parris). Kyle Kaminsky appears as Troy’s boyfriend, Grady.
Candyman doesn’t exactly revolve around Troy and Grady – they’re supporting characters – but their presence is notable and somewhat surprising given the horror genre’s track record. If you watch horror films, you’ll probably have noticed that LGBT+ characters often don’t appear at all – and when they do, they don’t tend to live very long (we’re looking at you, It: Chapter Two).