Which haunts us more? The Candyman or gentrification?
Sergio Socite
Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: Features
Media Credit: www.best-horror-movies.com'The Candyman,' filmed in the early 90s is set on UIC's campus.
There are some definitely scary places at UIC: Construction at BSB, falling concrete at University Hall, and of course any sidewalk in the icy winter. People might remember when they were young watching scary movies, but one was actually filmed here at UIC. A popular horror movie in the early 90's, Candyman, was actually filmed in Chicago. Parts of the movie were shot around our campus. For example, the main protagonist is seen studying at the Richard Daley Library. Virginia Madsen plays the role of a graduate student trying to finish her thesis in Urban Legends. She investigates an Urban Legend known as 'The Candyman' and gets more than she bargained for as the Candyman brutally stalks her throughout the movie.
While the movie does not make an official mention of UIC, it can be concluded that Madsen plays a graduate student that goes to UIC. Parts of University Hall can be seen as well as other parts of UIC in the movie. This horror movie can give students a perspective on the changes over the last twenty years with their school and Chicago.
"I had no idea that 'Candyman' was shot at UIC, I knew it was in Chicago somewhere. It's great that we can credit good movies with being shot at our school, even though Candyman would make it look like a scary place to be," said student Valaree Potts.
Not only is the connection of the change to UIC important, but the movie filming in once famous Cabrini Green is also historically relevant. According to the Internet Movie Database, Director Bernard Rose actually had to make a deal with ruling gang members in order to film the movie in Cabrini Green. The deal was that the safety of the filming crew would not be compromised if the gang members could participate as extras in the movie. However, there was one incident occurred in Cabrini Green where a snipe shot out a van, but no one was hurt.
The production was significant because it is one of the few movies that actually filmed in gang locations in Chicago. When I was watching the movie, I could see the overwhelming poverty and the violent surroundings. I could not believe that a horror movie would actually make a connection with the gentrification of our very own city.
Since 1992, Cabrini Green has been torn down and rebuilt into a mixed income neighborhood. From my own experience, I remember how fearful people were of this neighborhood as it was repeatedly mentioned throughout 'Candyman' that the protagonist should stay far away from the neighborhood. The movie filming in this neighborhood has made a long lasting impression on Chicagoans and UIC students. University Village has gone through several changes since the making of 'Candyman.' These changes in the last 17 years show a great significance in terms of urban renewal and change. Who knows, perhaps this was a horror movie that asked of its audience a higher level of thinking about social issues, rather than getting a cheap scare from its audience and nothing more.
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While the movie does not make an official mention of UIC, it can be concluded that Madsen plays a graduate student that goes to UIC. Parts of University Hall can be seen as well as other parts of UIC in the movie. This horror movie can give students a perspective on the changes over the last twenty years with their school and Chicago.
"I had no idea that 'Candyman' was shot at UIC, I knew it was in Chicago somewhere. It's great that we can credit good movies with being shot at our school, even though Candyman would make it look like a scary place to be," said student Valaree Potts.
Not only is the connection of the change to UIC important, but the movie filming in once famous Cabrini Green is also historically relevant. According to the Internet Movie Database, Director Bernard Rose actually had to make a deal with ruling gang members in order to film the movie in Cabrini Green. The deal was that the safety of the filming crew would not be compromised if the gang members could participate as extras in the movie. However, there was one incident occurred in Cabrini Green where a snipe shot out a van, but no one was hurt.
The production was significant because it is one of the few movies that actually filmed in gang locations in Chicago. When I was watching the movie, I could see the overwhelming poverty and the violent surroundings. I could not believe that a horror movie would actually make a connection with the gentrification of our very own city.
Since 1992, Cabrini Green has been torn down and rebuilt into a mixed income neighborhood. From my own experience, I remember how fearful people were of this neighborhood as it was repeatedly mentioned throughout 'Candyman' that the protagonist should stay far away from the neighborhood. The movie filming in this neighborhood has made a long lasting impression on Chicagoans and UIC students. University Village has gone through several changes since the making of 'Candyman.' These changes in the last 17 years show a great significance in terms of urban renewal and change. Who knows, perhaps this was a horror movie that asked of its audience a higher level of thinking about social issues, rather than getting a cheap scare from its audience and nothing more.
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