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Candy (released internationally as Candy: A Death in Texas) is an American biographical crime drama television miniseries created by Nick Antosca and Robin Veith.[1] The series stars Jessica Biel as the real-life Candy Montgomery, who was accused of the axe murder of her neighbor, Betty Gore (played by Melanie Lynskey) in 1980, in Texas.[2] It premiered on May 9, 2022, on Hulu, with a new episode for five nights until May 13.[3] The miniseries received generally positive reviews from critics. It was nominated for Outstanding Main Title Design at the 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
| Candy | |
|---|---|
.png) Promotional poster | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Ariel Marx |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Mitch Engel |
| Cinematography | Simon Dennis |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 46–55 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Hulu |
| Release | May 9 – May 13, 2022 |
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In Wylie, Texas, 1980s suburban housewife Candy Montgomery is accused of murdering her neighbor Betty Gore, after having an affair with Gore's husband Allan.[4]
Main
- Jessica Biel as Candy Montgomery
- Melanie Lynskey as Betty Gore
- Pablo Schreiber as Allan Gore
- Timothy Simons as Pat Montgomery
- Raúl Esparza as Don Crowder
- Antonella Rose as Christina Gore
Recurring
- Jessie Mueller as Sherry Cleckler
- Adam Bartley as Richard
- Justin Timberlake as Deputy Steve Deffibaugh
- Jason Ritter as Deputy Denny Reese
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Friday the 13th" | Michael Uppendahl | Story by : Nick Antosca & Robin Veith Teleplay by : Robin Veith | May 9, 2022 |
| 2 | "Happy Wife, Happy Life" | Jennifer Getzinger | David Matthews | May 10, 2022 |
| 3 | "Overkill" | Ben Semanoff | Brett Johnson | May 11, 2022 |
| 4 | "Cover Girl" | Tara Nicole Weyr | Elise Brown | May 12, 2022 |
| 5 | "The Fight" | Michael Uppendahl | Brett Johnson & David Matthews and Robin Veith | May 13, 2022 |
Development
In July 2020, it was announced UCP was developing a series revolving around Candy Montgomery, with Robin Veith writing the pilot for the series, and Nick Antosca set to executive produce under his Eat the Cat banner, with no network attached.[5] In December 2020, it was announced Hulu had landed the series.[6] In October 2021, it was announced Elisabeth Moss, who was originally set to star as Candy, had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts and would be replaced by Jessica Biel.[7]
Filming
Principal photography for Candy began in December 2021,[8] continuing through February 2022,[9] with filming taking place in Austell, Georgia.[10]
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The trailer for Candy was released on March 17, 2022.[11] Candy premiered on Hulu in the United States on May 9, 2022, with new episodes released nightly over five consecutive days, concluding on May 13.[12] Disney also announced that Candy would be available on its Disney+ Hotstar service in India starting July 15.[13] Internationally, Candy was released on Disney+ as a Star Original.[14] In Latin America, Candy premiered on July 27, 2022, on Star+.[15][16] The series is also known as Candy: A Death In Texas instead of Candy in some international markets.[17]
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Audience viewership
Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, reported that Candy was the fifth most anticipated new television series of May 2022.[18] The streaming aggregator JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 20 million users around the world, estimated that Candy was the most streamed television series in the U.S. during the week of May 9 to May 15, 2022.[19] According to the streaming aggregator Reelgood, which monitors real-time data from 5 million users in the U.S. for original and acquired streaming programs and movies across subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) services, Candy ranked as the eighth most streamed television series during the week of May 14, 2022,[20][21] and rose to third place the following week, May 21, 2022.[22] Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that Candy was watched for 557 million minutes from May 9 to May 15, 2022.[23][24]
Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the limited series holds a 72% approval rating based on 47 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Candy's sour aftertaste is counterbalanced by uniformly terrific performances, but it only takes a couple licks before this true crime drama loses its flavor."[25] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 61 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]
Josh Bell of Comic Book Resources remarked that the series effectively captures a late 1970s aesthetic through its décor and costumes. Bell commended the miniseries for its portrayal of the main characters' struggles through its dark tone and praised Biel's performance as Candy Montgomery, as well as the work of the supporting cast.[27] Brian Lowry of CNN found that Candy surpasses many true crime dramas in effectiveness, highlighting the convincing and well-rendered performances of Biel and Lynskey. Lowry also praised the miniseries for incorporating solid additional scripted elements, distinguishing it from other contemporary series in the same genre.[28]
Joel Keller of Decider praised the cast's performances, particularly those of Biel and Lynskey, and found the decision to begin the miniseries with Betty Gore's death intriguing. Keller appreciated how the series later delves into the events leading up to her death through a reconstruction of the characters' interactions.[29] Matt Fowler of IGN rated the miniseries seven out of ten, commending the cast's performances and praising the show for maintaining a sense of tension without revealing too much information in its early episodes.[30]
Maggie Boccella of Collider awarded the miniseries a C+ rating, describing it as a satisfactory true crime drama. While Boccella praised the actors' performances, they criticized the series for its lack of character development.[31]
Comparisons with Love & Death
Following the release of Love & Death in 2023, Candy, which is also based on the same events, was likened by some critics for its similarities and differences to the former. Alexis Soloski of The New York Times said that while understanding the "why" behind the crime is important, a true-crime drama must also address the "how." They found that since both Candy and Love & Death are categorized as prestige dramas rather than pure true-crime, despite being fact-based, both series struggled with the portrayal of violence and the perspective from which it is presented. Soloski found that both shows ultimately depicted the killing in ways that aligned with Montgomery’s trial testimony, creating scenes that were disturbing even to those involved in their production.[32] Shikhar Verma of High on Films asserted that Love & Death takes a more traditional approach, offering a dramatic retelling of the events. In contrast, they stated that Candy adopts a different perspective by focusing heavily on the psychological aspects of the case. Verma praised Candy for its portrayal of the story as a character study of female rage and noted that, unlike Love & Death, Candy immediately reveals the victim’s identity, which creates an air of suspense and mystery.[33]
Steve Greene of IndieWire noted that the residual horror of Betty Gore’s death is portrayed differently in each series. They found that in the second-to-last episode of Candy, Pat Montgomery is depicted as horrified by the physical demands of killing someone with an axe. Conversely, Greene observed that Love & Death presents Candy’s trial with a focus on the grisly evidence considered by the defendant and the jury. While one show was described as primarily confronting the audience with sensational details, the other was praised for exploring the broader impact of those details on individuals, families, and communities.[34] Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times stated that both series effectively recreate the late 1970s/early 1980s small-town atmosphere and detail the case. However, they found Candy to be slightly superior, noting that it presents the story over five episodes, whereas Love & Deathextends the narrative to seven episodes. Roeper observed that Candy's earlier release made Love & Death seem somewhat redundant and unnecessary.[35]
Accolades
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries | Melanie Lynskey | Nominated | [36] |
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | 2022 | Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Jessica Biel | Nominated | [37] |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Melanie Lynskey | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Main Title Design | Ronnie Koff, Peter Frankfurt, Lexi Gunvaldson, Rob Slychuk, Nader Husseini, and Elizabeth Steinberg |
Nominated | [38] |
| Satellite Awards | 2023 | Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | Jessica Biel | Nominated | [39] |
| Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Melanie Lynskey | Nominated |
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- Love & Death (2023), another television miniseries based on the same case
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