We need Candyman in Dead By Daylight
By Brian Allen
I was already working on some Dead By Daylight - related stuff when I heard the sad news that iconic actor Tony Todd has passed away. Over his lengthy career, he amassed credits ranging from the Final Destination series to the voice of Venom in the Spider-Man 2 game. But to many, he is best known as Candyman, star of the now cult classic horror series.
Dead By Daylight's roster of incredible horror movie villains is the industry's best, and Candyman is one of the biggest names not yet included. Every time a "legendary licensed horror slasher" is teased, this franchise's fans get a little hyped up. So far, we've walked away disappointed.
Todd's performance is unique for so many reasons. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Black characters don't often get the most screen time in these movies. Films such as Deep Blue Sea bemoan the fact that Black characters are often among the first to die. This series puts Black stories front and center, and we have embraced it. We have joked that Candyman is a true Black horror character. If you keep his name out of your mouth, you won't have any problems.
One existing DBD killer, The Cenobite, already has a mechanic based on summoning him to a specific location. It's easy to imagine Candyman working in a similar way. Need to get a survivor off the hook? Have someone else go to a conveniently placed mirror and summon Candyman there so you can get the save. There are endless possibilities.
I know I'm far from the only one asking for this. Despite competitors such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Killer Clowns from Outer Space, DBD has remained at the top of the asymmetrical horror genre for years now. At this point, I suspect Candyman's inclusion is a when, not an if. Me and millions of his other fans are patiently waiting to look into that mirror.