Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a legend about the candy witch. The villagers believed that the candy witch would visit their town every year on Halloween night. She was said to be a kind and generous witch who would fly through the sky on her broomstick, leaving delicious treats for the children. The legend grew over time, with each generation passing down stories of the candy witch's visits. On Halloween night, the children would eagerly wait for the candy witch to arrive. They would dress up in costumes and go door-to-door, collecting candy from the villagers.
They would dress up in costumes and go door-to-door, collecting candy from the villagers. But the highlight of the night was when the candy witch would make her appearance. As the sun set and darkness fell upon the village, the children would gather in the town square, eagerly looking up at the night sky.
The Candy Witch
For months a family in England has been haunted by a ghost known as the candy witch. A pair of paranormal investigators, a psychic and his girlfriend, agree to try to help the family get rid of the ghost so they can film the events for their online following. Time is running out as the ghost becomes more violent, and the investigators uncover more and more secrets.
The Candy Witch is the latest film directed by Rebecca Matthews (Pet Graveyard, The Watcher 2) and written by Scott Jeffrey (The Bad Nun, The Watcher 2). There are many layers in this film drawing focus to different areas. There is the couple who does paranormal investigations and shares them on social media. Reece, the psychic, tries to use his ability to help people, but it takes a toll on him. There is the family being haunted. They seem like any normal loving family that only wants to be rid of this malevolent presence. Then there is the legend of the candy witch herself. What is interesting about this plot is that the witch who is haunting the family isn’t some urban legend from olden days. Instead, she is the ghost of a woman who once worked for the family as a nanny. As rumors spread about her murdering children, she turned into the mythical “candy witch.” These various subplots come together surprisingly well to create a story with several interesting twists and turns.
While the overarching story in The Candy Witch is entertaining, there are some definite bumps along the way. As I mentioned, I like that the ghost is of someone the family actually knew, taking it away from the stereotypical haunted house scenario. The problem is that the urban legend around the nanny being a candy witch feels incomplete. The rumors about her abusing children and murdering kids makes sense, but there isn’t really any point in time when they explain where the candy aspect came into play in her legend. Despite it never being explained, we see candy often used throughout the film. When we see the candy witch, she is often holding a giant, jagged-edge candy cane and she typically murders people using candy. It unfortunately makes most of the kill scenes comical when they are clearly not meant to be. It’s hard not to laugh when a ghost is killing someone by shoving handfuls of cotton candy down their throat until they choke to death (which I also feel realistically wouldn’t work with how quickly cotton candy dissolves in your mouth).
There is also a vagueness surrounding Reece. We learn about his ability to see and speak with the dead, but that it somehow takes a physical toll on him. Specifically, it seems to damage his ability to hear. We also learn that his father had the same gift. These are all things mentioned fairly early on in the film and seem like they are of some importance, but then never discussed again or resolved. Why does his gift make him lose his hearing? It seems like these are things have some significance, but the audience never gets to learn what the significance is.
Similar to the plot, the performances have high and low points, but generally speaking they are enjoyable to watch. Jon Callaway (The Mermaid’s Curse, Cupid) stars as psychic medium and paranormal investigator, Reece. This character is the most calm and collected of everyone because his abilities give him insight about the dead normal people don’t have. Callaway plays that quite well, but I wish when things take a turn for the worse he would ramp up the intensity, although I suspect this is an issue related to directing more than his performance. Heather Jackson (The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall) plays the matriarch of the family, Ruth. At first, Jackson’s portrayal of Ruth comes across as a bit false. As the plot progresses, Jackson’s performance stands out for all the right reasons and even makes her portrayal of Ruth earlier in the film better. The true standout performance comes from Will Stanton (Silent Place) as Ruth’s son, Tom. There is a sincerity of Stanton’s performance that makes the climax of the film all the more thrilling. The single biggest negative I can say of the cast isn’t related to any performance. It’s that the film takes place in England, yet only one of the main characters/actors is English. The filmmakers could easily have used the same cast and had it take place in the US, especially since the location isn’t significant to the plot.
When it comes to the visuals of The Candy Witch, there isn’t a lot to discuss. The sets are great, especially the house where the haunting takes place. It is a beautiful old estate that feels rich, but is also old enough to feel a bit sinister. It also looks like a home that could easily be in England. The design of the ghost seems very much to be a physical embodiment of the rumors about the nanny. She looks like a stereotypical witch with somewhat greenish skin and warts or boils all over her face. The practical effects to make the witch aren’t the best, but the effects for the wounds she inflicts are fairly well done.
The Candy Witch tries to tell an interesting story, but ultimately can’t overcome the holes in the plot. There is a seed of a good film within Matthews’ and Jeffrey’s work. There are simply too many things set up that either don’t make sense or don’t get the resolution they deserve. The performances are adequate and the effects are decent. Most of the issues with the film stem from the candy witch herself. From her look, to her method of killing, to her origin story, it seems as though the filmmakers cared more about injecting a memorable villain rather than creating a compelling and cohesive plot. There are enough unique aspects of the plot to make it an interesting watch, but too many drawbacks to make it a truly successful film.
OVERALL RATING: 4.5/10
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
When it comes to the visuals of The Candy Witch, there isn’t a lot to discuss. The sets are great, especially the house where the haunting takes place. It is a beautiful old estate that feels rich, but is also old enough to feel a bit sinister. It also looks like a home that could easily be in England. The design of the ghost seems very much to be a physical embodiment of the rumors about the nanny. She looks like a stereotypical witch with somewhat greenish skin and warts or boils all over her face. The practical effects to make the witch aren’t the best, but the effects for the wounds she inflicts are fairly well done.
Suddenly, a faint flicker of light would appear in the distance. It grew brighter and closer, until the candy witch's broomstick was visible to all. The children would gasp in excitement as she flew gracefully through the air, her cloak billowing in the wind. The candy witch would land in the town square, amidst cheers and applause from the children. She would open her bag of treats, filled with an assortment of sweets and chocolates. One by one, she would hand out the candy, ensuring that every child received a special treat. The children's faces would light up with joy as they eagerly accepted their goodies. But the candy witch was not just known for her treats. She would also listen to the children's hopes and dreams, offering words of encouragement and wisdom. Her visits brought a sense of magic and wonder to the village, reminding the children to believe in miracles and to always be kind. As the night drew to a close, the candy witch would bid farewell to the children, promising to return next year. She would take off on her broomstick, disappearing into the night sky. The children would wave goodbye, filled with gratitude and excitement for the next Halloween. The legend of the candy witch continued to be passed down through generations, bringing joy and wonder to the village year after year. The children grew up, but they never forgot the magic of the candy witch's visits. They would tell their own children and grandchildren about the kind and generous witch who made their Halloween nights unforgettable. The candy witch story serves as a reminder that sometimes, in the midst of darkness, we can find light and sweetness. It teaches us the importance of kindness and generosity, and the power of believing in magic. The legend lives on, continuing to inspire and enchant those who hear it..
Reviews for "The Curious Case of the Candy Witch"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "The Candy Witch Story". The concept seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The writing was sloppy and the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself losing interest in the story quickly. The plot felt predictable and lacked originality. Overall, I was underwhelmed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Mike - 1 star
"The Candy Witch Story" was a complete waste of my time. The story was confusing and poorly developed. The pacing was all over the place, and I felt like the author was just throwing ideas together without any clear direction. The dialogue was unnatural and stilted, making it hard to believe in the characters' motivations. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the cliche and unimaginative plot twists. This is definitely not a book I would recommend to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I don't understand the hype around "The Candy Witch Story". I found it to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The writing was lackluster, and the characters were uninteresting. The book failed to build any suspense or create a compelling atmosphere. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfactory. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and wishing I had spent my time on a more engaging read.
4. Tom - 2 stars
"The Candy Witch Story" was a letdown. The story had potential, but it failed to deliver on its promises. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of dullness and sudden bursts of action that didn't fit organically into the plot. The dialogue was clunky and unrealistic, and the characters lacked depth. I was hoping for a spooky and thrilling read, but instead, I was left feeling bored and unimpressed.
5. Emma - 1 star
I couldn't stand "The Candy Witch Story". The writing was atrocious, filled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it hard to follow what was happening. The characters were poorly developed and lacked any redeeming qualities. I couldn't find any enjoyment in this book, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.