Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh lives up to the potential that the first one failed to do.  We start out with Phillip Purcell (one of the professors from the first Candyman) promoting his book by telling the legend of the Candyman to a group in New Orleans.  During the lecture, Purcell uses the reflective cover of his book to call the Candyman, but is only victim to his own stage act.  Afterwards, Purcell is confronted by Ethan Tarrant (William O'Leary), whose father was murdered by the Candyman.  Ethan accuses Purcell of being responsible for his father's death because Purcell told him there was no Candyman, and to prove Purcell wrong, he called the Candyman and was killed.  Ethan fights with Purcell in a bar, but they are separated.  Then, while cleaning up in the bathroom, Purcell comes face-to-mirror with the Candyman, and doesn't live to tell about it.  Ethan is accussed of the murder of Purcell, but doesn't care.  All he cares about is protecting his sister Annie (Kelly Rowan) from the potential threat of the Candyman because of a dark secret that connects the Tarrant family with Daniel Robitaille, the Candyman.  It is also nearing the time of Mardi Gras, and things are in a festive mood, but with the Candyman out there, some people are scared.  Annie's students believe in the Candyman, and to prove them wrong, she calls his name five times in the mirror.  Nothing happens, yet.  Eventually, he appears, and the Candyman stalks her, begins to murder the people in her life, and even her own family is not safe from the terror of the Candyman.  As the Candyman slashes his way closer to her, Annie has to find out who the Candyman is, and how to stop him before it's too late.

In this, the first sequel, we discover more about the Candyman, who he was, and how he became who he is now.  This one is definitely better than the original - something you don't hear too often.  Tony Todd reprises his role as the Candyman, and does it with the same horrific and chilling style as before.  The direction and production design is far more dense and textured than the first film.  The story is much more to the point as it really is about exploring the true origins of the Candyman, but the seductive, vengeful spirit's screentime does not vary too much from the first film.  You don't get oversaturated with his presence like you do with, say Pinhead in Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth or Hellraiser: Bloodline.  This is definitely more of what I would've expected from Clive Barker.  Plus, I'm a sucker for origin stories (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Jason Goes To Hell).  This is definitely worth the price of rental / purchase.  Check this one out because it is by far the best Candyman of them all.