Annie Tarrant, a New Orleans schoolteacher, is haunted by her past when years ago her father was found slashed to pieces in a seemingly unprovoked murder. At that time, the rumors began in the inner city that he was slain by The Candyman. Now, her brother, Ethan, stands accused of a similarly styled murder. Equally as disturbing, The Candyman has begun to appear in the drawings of one of Annie's students, Matthew, a troubled, inner-city student. One day at school, in an effort to dispel her students' fears, Annie faces a mirror and chants "Candyman" five times. Nervously, all the kids but Matthew laugh. He watches as a single bee throws itself continually into their window. At home with her husband Paul, Annie once again faces the mirror, this time in a dream state. Suddenly, she sees him--the man in Matthew's drawings--The Candyman. Staggering out of the bathroom, she discovers that Paul has been slashed from head to foot. The Candyman is in her world and is waiting to bring her home, to his.