Candyman

This faithful, scary and visually imaginative adaptation of Clive Barker's story 'The Forbidden' casts Madsen as a Chicago doctoral student researching an urban myth about a hook-handed killer called Candyman. A series of murders in the city's run-down projects are linked with stories about a figure who appears when you say his name five times in front of a mirror. But are the frightened residents and elaborate graffiti proof that Candyman exists, or simply evidence of their wish to believe in the bogeyman? Following up on Paperhouse, Rose stages the suspense and horror with skill and panache, making this one of the best sustained horror movies for some years.