In present-day Chicago, visual artist Anthony McCoy lives with his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright, in a luxury loft that stands on what was once the Cabrini-Green housing projects. Plagued by gentrification, the horrors that once haunted the neighborhood are seemingly forgotten. However, when Anthony meets a long-time Cabrini-Green resident, he learns of the tragic story of Candyman, a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, summoned by those who dare to repeat his name five times into a mirror. Inspired by the macabre tale, Anthony begins to explore these grim details as subject matter for his paintings, unwittingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

As Anthony's obsession with the Candyman myth grows, he delves deeper into his history, tracing back to the roots of the urban legend and its connection to the systematic injustices faced by the Black community. His artwork begins to draw the attention of the art world, but it also starts to break down the barrier between reality and folklore. Strange occurrences and violent events begin to surround Anthony and those around him, catalyzing a chain of events that threatens to spiral out of control. As he becomes more enmeshed with the Candyman legend, the boundary between his life and the mythic figure blurs, dragging him closer to a destiny that is intertwined with the vengeful spirit.