With Candyman now out in theaters, the titular boogeyman is back in the horror spotlight. While the Candyman legend was born of tragedy (and a Clive Barker tale), it shares commonality with another widely popular urban legend, Bloody Mary. With either, staring into a mirror while chanting their name summons them to you, bringing your doom along with them. It’s the precise type of thing that makes urban legends excellent fodder for horror movies.
So, this week’s “Stay Home, Watch Horror” streaming picks center around urban legends; some adapted from actual myths and some that make up their own. All bring the horror fun.
Here’s where you can stream them this week…
Kandisha – Shudder
Teen friends uncover the word “Kandisha” beneath peeling wall coverings while out graffitiing. It’s the name of a vengeful Moroccan spirit who slays men when summoned by saying her name aloud five times. When one of the teens gets assaulted by her ex, she calls for Kandisha, unleashing a violent curse that will claim the lives of all men around them unless they can stop it. This supernatural slasher may not offer anything new, but it does keep you entertained thanks to its characters, a fantastic looking entity, and some bone-crushing, ultra-violent deaths. Emphasis on the ultra-violence; this slasher entity is ruthless.
Madman – Pluto TV, Tubi
This 1981 slasher drew inspiration from the New York urban legend of Cropsey but shifted gears upon learning about The Burning’s competing production. Thus, the legend of Madman Marz was born. A campfire tale and song opens this slasher, which explains that Madman Marz chopped up his family with an ax, and invoking his name will cause the killer to come for you. Guess what happens when a cocky camper tries to test the tale by calling for Madman Marz? A bloodbath ensues, as it should.
Triangle – Kanopy, Peacock, Pluto TV, Roku, Tubi, Vudu
Melissa George (The Amityville Horror, Turistas) stars as Jess, a frazzled single mother, invited along on a yachting trip for the day. A sudden storm causes the boat to capsize, forcing the passengers to seek refuge on a passing ocean liner. The ship is eerily vacant, save for a burlap masked shooter intent on picking them off. Déjà vu sets in big time, adding layers to this twisty tale that keeps you guessing. Writer/Director Christopher Smith (Black Death, Severance) pulls from the Bermuda Triangle, and the Greek myth of Sisyphus for his ocean liner-set slasher turned claustrophobic time loop tale.
Absentia – AMC+, Shudder, Tubi
When creating his eerie supernatural tale, writer/director Mike Flanagan drew inspiration from a few urban myths about tunnels and trolls. Flanagan mainstay Katie Parker stars as Callie, a recovering addict who comes to stay with her pregnant sister, Tricia (Courtney Bell). Tricia’s finally ready to accept that her missing husband is dead, but then Callie encounters a strange man in an empty tunnel, shocked that she can see him. It’s the beginning of a series of strange events stemming from the tunnel, including a supernatural bargain Callie unwittingly strikes. Leave it to Flanagan to use urban legend as a haunting and unsettling exploration of grief.
The Wretched – Hulu
Teenager Ben (John-Paul Howard) is still adapting to his parents’ recent split, making a summer visit with his dad in a small coastal town a bit strained and awkward. Then Ben notices something extraordinary happening next door; something evil has taken over the skin of a woman, and it’s preying on local children. Too bad no one believes Ben. Written/directed by Brett and Drew T. Pierce (Deadheads), The Wretched blends Rear Window with urban legend, creating a gruesome witch that borrows from Boo Hag and Black Annis folklore.