Candy

Candy is an intriguing, true-crime limited series released by Hulu in 2022. Much like the real-life events it portrays, it is steeped in mystery, suspense and a mesmerizing Southern Gothic atmosphere. The show is based on the the real-life story of Candy Montgomery, a small town woman from Wylie, Texas, who was charged with the murder of her neighbor, Betty Gore, in the early 1980s. The scandal shook their quiet, close-knit community to its core, and the setting plays a large role in framing the drama and tension.

The tale unravels not simply as a straightforward crime drama. Instead, it delves deeply into the idiosyncrasies and nuances of suburban life, underscoring the contrast between the seemingly perfect exterior of Candy's life and the nightmare lurking underneath. The tranquility of her Texan neighborhood, marked by Sunday church services, PTA meetings, and block parties, is violently disrupted with this unexpected crime, which unearths a tangled web of secrets and deceit.

The series primarily revolves around the life of Candy Montgomery, a beloved woman known for her charm, friendliness, and active involvement in her community. On the surface, she embodies the perfectly content suburban homemaker. However, beneath her amiable facade, she harbors a profound discontentment with her life that precipitates a chain of events leading to an unthinkable outcome.

It provides an in-depth character study of Candy Montgomery, focusing on her metamorphosis before and after the crime. It does not merely present her as a woman who committed an atrocious act; instead, it humanizes her, displaying a complex and flawed character grappling with darker elements of her personality and dissatisfaction with her stagnant existence.

Candy is played by Jessica Biel, who delivers a deeply compelling performance. Biel expertly navigates the emotional complexities of her role, seamlessly oscillating between a loving mother, caring friend, and a woman embroiled in a scandalous affair. She compartmentalizes these varying facets of Montgomery's personality, offering a riveting portrayal of a woman on the verge of collapse.

While primarily Candy's story, the narrative also shines light on her relationship with her neighbor Betty Gore. Played by Melanie Lynskey, Betty is a woman who finds herself in the dark about her friend’s hidden life and her husband’s infidelity, which only adds another layer of tension and dread to the plot. Lynskey portrays the multilayered character of a betrayed and hurt woman with profound authenticity and depth, contributing to the overall narrative fabric.

Other supporting characters are introduced to add different layers and dimensions to the narrative. They are representative of various templates of suburban life, each bringing unique perspectives to the unfolding crime drama. Every perspective change, each different account unfolds more layers of the mystery, painting a mosaic of a community shaken to its core and forced to reevaluate their perception of their seemingly quiet and peaceful lives.

However, the series is not all grimness and drama. It balances the murder mystery with visceral moments of humor and irony. It subtly satirizes the trappings of suburban life, ordinary parenthood, and the facades people maintain despite their internal struggles.

In terms of visual aesthetics, 'Candy' leverages the 1980s setting to its advantage, capturing the era's distinct fashion, architecture, and cultural ethos evocatively. The production design, costumes, and soundtrack all tastefully recreate the era, fostering authenticity and immersion.

At its core, Candy is a cinematic exploration of the human psyche, societal norms, moral ambiguities, and the chilling possibility of darkness lurking beneath ordinary suburban lives. It isn't simply a crime story, but a complex drama about relationships, marital issues, and the high price of maintaining an image of perfection in a tightly knit society. As such, it promises a captivating watch for viewers interested in absorbing character studies and nuanced narratives.