Anthony may have survived the fire as a baby, but the Candyman would go on to haunt his very life years later. The Candyman originally chose to sacrifice Helen, the protagonist from the 1992 film, and Anthony so that his legend could go on. However, Helen saved baby Anthony before stabbing the Candyman.

For Helen, the Candyman is merely a symbol of the difficulties faced by Cabrini-Green's residents. So, just to humor herself, she says the Candyman's name five times in a mirror, unknowingly inviting him and his sadistic antics into her life.