Candiland (2016) User Reviews

Boringland

[shawnblackman · 5/10 · 15 February 2017]

A very weird film where a couple decides to lock themselves in the apartment and paint it to resemble a candy land. Shutting the outside world off they easily enter their new world, which at first seems heavenly, then slowly transcends into hell.

They both have more issues than Sports Illustrated which is why you never get surprised at some of the things they do. This film drags a lot of times and suffers from poor editing.

Gary Busey plays the mans over bearing father who is mostly responsible for the mental health of his son. When I first seen the poster for this (the one with the skull) I thought it was going to be a twisted Charlie And The Chocolate Factory but instead we get two people starving themselves for an hour and a half.

Don't bother

[franklindf · 3/10 · 9 February 2017]

I like low-budget films, and especially those with a horror bent; Films like 'The Greasy Strangler', 'Blood Car', or the original 'Cabin Fever'. So I thought I might like this. The film did have a few comedic moments, where the awkwardness of the dialogue felt real, genuine, and funny. But overall, there was a lack of coherency to the point where it just felt like a half-hearted student film project from a lower-level class at a second-rate film school. The acting had funny moments, but for the most part it just seemed like bad improvisation. I appreciate that films such as this one are made, but this one just more or less belongs in the dust bin - it's not memorable and it will be forgotten and never achieve the cult following that a film such as this one strives for.

Think Sid and Nancy without the drugs

[uzielis · 4/10 · 29 March 2020]

Woman and man meet, they like each other, and they move in together. Man is bitter over his domineering dad and bum knee, while woman is quick to get over things and struggling to be cleansed. They go on a spiral of paranoia, a complete disregard of time and the outside world to their detriment. Are there such people in this world? If yes, then may they be rescued. At least they weren't preaching their 'gospel' to others. The fact that they kept to themselves shows that they had a bit of respect for their fellow humans. Quirky, but overall, not a big kick.

Well, it's in Color.

[arfdawg-1 · 1/10 · 8 February 2017]

The Plot. Peter, a failed tennis star, is struggling to rebuild his life after a car accident forces the end of his career.

Angry at the world's consumerist values and his controlling father, Arnie, who he blames for being absent during his mother's dying days, Peter is desperately searching for a moment's peace.

In an attempt at normality, he heads to a bar for a night out, where he encounters recently divorced and grieving Tess, abandoned and lonely. Finding solace in each other's brokenness, they withdraw to Peter's apartment and begin a sensual love affair.

Days of bliss pass by, and when Tess reluctantly tries to leave to deal with the aftermath of her divorce, Peter proposes an idea: isolate themselves in his apartment to create their own reality - CANDiLAND.

Now cut off from the world, the tormented lovers embark on a dogmatic quest for a higher existence.

But their possessive love descends into a surreal savagery as Arnie attempts to reconnect with his son and put an end to CANDiLAND.

I was looking forward to seeing this movie given the rave reviews. Should have known. The two good reviews are clearly written by people who have skin in the game.

This movie is well nigh unwatchable. It's poorly written, horribly directed and the acting is horrendous.

The only good thing about this movie is that it's colorful. Period.

In the Running For Worst Movie Ever

[mrmr-26666 · 1/10 · 13 May 2017]

This movie haunted me it is so bad. I watched it online where it was misrepresented as having a high IMDb. I would have turned it off in the first 30 seconds, but thought there has to be something good here with such a high rating. The idea that this turd had 8+ rating was eating at me, so I found this site, where the rating is actually much lower.

The film is composed of what seems like 20 second scenes. Each scene may include different characters at a different time frame. The short, scattered scenes would normally be even more annoying, but they are so bad that the viewer is happy to see them end.

The plot summary is more than a spoiler. It is more understandable than the actual movie.

Psychological Thriller Exploring the Realty of Mental Illness

[ruthaw_1974 · 7/10 · 23 May 2017]

I recently had the opportunity to screen this indie film based on the book by Elizabeth Engstrom and produced by Motorcycle Boy Productions. Additionally, I interviewed the two leads, James Clayton and Chelah Horsdal, and I knew that in screening this film, I would be stepping further outside my comfort zone than I ever had before. And that is entirely correct. I am not a fan of psychological thrillers as a rule–except Hitchcock, if you can call some of his films that–but I was determined to go in with the mindset of a reviewer. I do want to warn you that if you are offended by gratuitous sex (no nudity, thankfully) or superfluous profanity, you may wish to skip this film. On one level, I could have done without either of those. However, I set aside all that for the purposes of the review, and the remainder of this review will be spent on the content and acting from an artistic standpoint.

For the entire review, please go to the link on my website: http://mydevotionalthoughts.net/2017/02/candiland-film-review.html

Great Indy!

[capn_crusty-1 · 9/10 · 12 January 2017]

Low-budget, and the biggest name (or at least most recognizable) is Gary Busey. But...the writing is great, the acting is superb, and relatively-new-guy Rusty Nixon shows promise as a director.

Particularly fascinating is Clayton's performance; the boy suffered for his art as few will ever attempt (I won't say how, but I can guarantee that what he did ain't special effects).

I hope this comes out theatrically, but if it doesn't, it's definitely worth a stream.

I don't really have much more to say, but IMDb insists on "ten lines", so here it is.

We are not cleansed

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 1 August 2017]

Peter (James Clayton) a tennis star gets his career cut short by a car accident. He gets a lump sum payout. He finds divorced Tess (Chelah Horsdal) who has a settlement also. They decide to live together in his apartment which they decorate as Candiland by painting the walls etc. and creating a crude cardboard menagerie. Things start off blissful and then deteriorate. Peter has a smothering father in Gary Busey who he tries to ignore. The film shows us a bit of the future, so we know things don't turn out good.

This is clearly an oddball cult film whose microcosm theme about life, relationships, and God I haven't been able to fathom unless it is about man's rejection of God leading to his own downfall as he attempts to create his own world. It has won a number of Indie awards which means it is at least good on a pretentious level. While I was mildly entertained and amused, the apartment scene got old at about 40 minutes even with the flashbacks.

Guide: F-word. Sex, rape. Male butt nudity.

The Most Nerve-Wrecking Film of the Year

[jaymeschmitt-82869 · 10/10 · 26 April 2016]

I attended this years Dubuque Julien Film Festival and got the chance to see this film. First off, it's important to know that I am a huge fan of films such as THE SHINING, YELLOWBRICKROAD, and 1408. Psychological thrillers that push the max of what can be portrayed as the mind being lost to insanity. Being a psychology major, I love these types of films and CANDILAND does not fall far from it. The cast and crew did an amazing job on this film and it really shines through. The editing may be a little sporadic, but it's definitely made up for interesting characters and clever writing. Gary Busey, being the name of the attraction line, does an outstanding performance and even though he is featured as the highlight in the trailer, is not the main focus. His son, however, is. This is an isolation type that doesn't rely on a huge budget to make a good film. It works off of very talented actors, a clever set piece, and a dedicated crew. This is a film that will drive you into submission for weeks without even having to try hard at all. And that is a scary idea.

Dark, Disturbing, weirdly funny sometimes. Positive message.

[mattseeleyfilm · 10/10 · 16 February 2017]

Candiland.

Peter and Tess, two lovers with tragic pasts barricade themselves in their apartment, dubbing it a new surreal reality called "Candiland'. The only figure in their lives fighting to bring them out of their worsening mental and physical states is Arnie, Peter's father/

This movie is visceral, in that you'll be engrossed, disturbed, maybe a little shaken. There are shocking, unpleasant moments, that deal with dark themes and behaviours. James Clayton's sacrifice and performance is worth watching by itself. And Gary Busey is a powerhouse, especially in the scenes where he attempts to visit Candiland.

Not a horror but very psychologically unnerving. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this film since I saw it. A vivid, nightmarish independent film with a strong message about the stigma of mental illness.

Peter is struggling with an oppressive father

[racpagne · 10/10 · 20 February 2017]

James Clayton makes a remarkable transformation to play the part of Peter.Obviously dedicated to his craft.I felt a lot of empathy as I watched the deterioration of the once full of life person.When he kills his father,Gary Busey,I never saw it coming.Pretty dramatic.Peter was finally free of his domineering father. I cried when Peter died. I think James Clayton is one of those great actors who comes along about every five or ten years.He stands out,obviously dedicated,and lives the part. I really enjoyed the movie.

Intense, Weird and Haunting.

[watches-59882 · 10/10 · 2 April 2017]

A weird and haunting movie about love, need, malnutrition and insanity that left me with a with a crawling feeling and a twitch that left me thinking about the story days after I had watched it. Eventually i just had to find the book and read the original story by Elizabeth Engstrom which only helped me appreciate the screen adaptation all the more. Spoiler alert...do you want to see an actor dive balls deep into a roll, show up with real broken teeth, work nearly naked in meat locker temperatures and perform a disturbing 40+ lb loss transformation? The talent and dedication of the actors in this Indie flick is eery and although I rarely watch movies more than once....I will be watching CandiLand again.

Rad and weirdly engaging

[granddaddymac · 10/10 · 8 March 2017]

I loved this movie. The film starts off slowly but gets progressively more intense as it goes on. Be prepared to squirm in your seat a little towards the end. James Clayton and Chelah Horsdal really commit to their respective roles and slow demise. The film benefits from strong supporting acting for comedic breaks from a dismal central plot. I would definitely recommend this movie but maybe not if you're looking for an easy rom-com ending to your Netflix and chill night.