Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hard Candy

Hard Candy (2005)
Drama | Thriller

A mature 14-year old girl meets a charming 32-year old photographer on the Internet. Suspecting that he is a pedophile, she goes to his home in an attempt to expose him.



This little indie flick introduced us to Ellen Page and director David Slade. Made for under a million dollars, the film made a big impact thanks its stand out performance by Patrick Wilson and the aforementioned Page. This film was shot with only four main actors over an 18 day period in California. Since then Slade has gone on to direct "30 Days of Night" and the upcoming Twilight film "Eclipse."

Ellen Page plays Haley, a 14 year old girl, who meets Wilson's 32 year old character, Jeff, over the internet. They decide to meet at a coffee shop to talk. Jeff is a photographer and interested in a lot of the same things as Haley. This in itself is a little creepy and unnerving. After a little pushing and teasing (the t-shirt Scene) Haley gets Jeff to invite her over to his apartment. The whole film has an unnerving balance to it. While Haley is far more mature that her 14 years, Jeff should surely know better. At his apartment, Jeff offers her alcohol and she accepts. They talk and Haley wants her picture taken. The story then does a complete 180 degree turn as Jeff's drink has been drugged. Haley ties him up and holds him prisoner and interrogates him on the other girls he's done this too. She wants him to admit he is a sick and twisted pedophile, but it he? He has obviously made some pretty poor decisions, but does he really deserve what Haley has in store for him?

Page is a actress that can convincingly play someone much younger that she really is. Although it wasn't much of a stretch in this film, as she was 17 during filming. Her shy girlish demeanor quickly transform into the smart, bad ass chick that physically and mentally tortures Jeff. You could say in some scenes that Jeff could easily over power Haley and take back control, but what can he do, she's only 14. No matter how you look at it, it's going to end badly for Jeff. 

There is one disturbing scene where guys everywhere will cover their eyes and run away screaming. Haley decides to castrate Jeff to teach him a lesson; this is a difficult scene to watch no matter who you are. Does she really go through with it? You'll have to watch. The back and fourth between these characters is what elevates this film into something more that your average revenge fantasy film. The only problem I have with it is the ending. I can see how they arrive at it, but don't really agree with it. They never really tell you who Haley really is and her motivations for are kind of alluded to, but are still kind of fuzzy. This film is an intriguing little nugget that should be seen.

7/10

Have you seen it? If so, what's your opinion?

34 comments:

  1. GREAT MOVIE! this is the favorite movie of a friend of mine and she insisted for me to watch and i really like it.

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  2. Dang only 4 million? Looks like a really dark movie. Not a role we are used to seeing with Ellen Page.

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  3. Great review, always good to see paedophiles get castrated!

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  4. I liked this movie. Sort of dark, but where is the harm in that?

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  5. sounds like a real bad premise. a pedophile dreams these kind of movies :\

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  6. Nice review, it's an alight movie

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  7. I think this was on TV not to long ago, I might be mistaken though.

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  8. Wow seems really different to other films of this genre(if there are any...)

    I guess it's a topic only daring filmmakers will go into.

    Seems awesome! I've not even heard of it before right now, but will go and look for a copy!

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  9. Haven't seen it, awesome review!

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  10. Great review. I've seen a part of this movie on TV..It's scary as sht

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  11. Probably the only movie Ellen Page did that I don't hate. Still not a very good movie though.

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  12. Wow, the way you reviewed it seemed like it was going to get a much higher rating than 7/10. I demand a recount!!!

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  13. haven't seen it but i think i ve to go to the dvd shop next friday :)

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  14. thx for this post , now i will watch this movie !

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  15. 7/10 hmmm guess its not worth seeing

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  16. Great review. Ill watch it now.

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  17. freaky blog cover! i'll be checking this out soon.

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  18. seen this one, and i loved it! really great movie

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  19. "Haley decides to castrate Jeff"
    I AM NOT WATCHING THIS MOVIE EVER.

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  20. i read about it before now. i knew it was disturbing in some way, but it didn't have anything special for me.

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  21. wow weird story, maybe only maybe i will watch this

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  22. Thanks for the review! I'll take it as a recommendation and check it out.

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  23. Sounds like my kind of film :)

    Not for the paedophilia, but photography.

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  24. Thanks for the review, dunno if ill see the movie though

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  25. Hard Candy was actually pretty good didn't know that one before good blog mate

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  26. sounds interesting, reckon ill watch it
    followed

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  27. Awesome review, cant wait to check this out now ;D

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  28. i watched this movie and i liked it

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  29. I remember watching this at college, wincing.

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  30. I do own this movie, but I haven't found the will to view it yet..

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