Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7102 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Synopsis
Claustrophobic and brightly coloured, this tightly wound psychological thriller is constantly pulling the rug out from under the viewer, mostly due to the tense, explosive performances of its two main characters. The tale opens with a coffee shop rendezvous between 14-year-old Haley (the fantastic Ellen Page) and 32-year-old fashion photographer Jeff (Patrick Wilson), who have previously met only online in a chat room. Despite his questionable enthusiasm at meeting a girl half his age, Jeff comes off as slightly awkward and shy; rather, it’s Haley who is unnervingly forthright in her flirtation. She suggests that they go back to his place, he complies, and, once there, Haley seductively convinces him to take pictures of her. She exhibits a beguiling mixture of innocence and precocious sexuality, but before anything happens between them, Jeff passes out under the influence of the drugs she's slipped him. When he wakes up, Haley drops her innocent demeanor and begins to undertake a meticulously planned game of retribution against her captive pedophile. She hacks into his computer and ransacks his house while he watches helplessly, and she ultimately raises the ante with a surgical procedure sure to make audiences squirm. The exact nature of Jeff's guilt remains nebulous, however, creating an intriguing uncertainty surrounding Haley's own mental state, and just how psychotic she might be. Expectations are continuously thwarted as the two characters--neither of whom is terribly sympathetic--enact a psychological and physical game of cat and mouse that is as fascinating to watch as a train wreck.

Customer Reviews

Uncomfortable, edgy and fast paced
This film does not mess about - gets straight to the point and has many uncomfortable scenes (not horror, just ... uncomfortable, you'll know what I mean when you watch it!) that make you squirm and think "did that really happen?" watch it at least once, but might need two viewings to appreciate the irony.

NOT EASY VIEWING
Opening with a computer screen capturing flirtatious key strokes between online chat room users, David Slade's, gritty indie drama/shocker, Hard Candy begins at a playful and gentle pace before snaking off in altogether different directions. Taking a delicate subject and molding it into a pot-boiler thriller is a risky proposition, not least when dealing with pedophilia (alleged or otherwise) and Hard Candy doesn't pull any punches.

Its central conceit: 14 year old Hayley (Ellen Page) and thirty-something photographer Jeff (Patrick Wilson), meet up at a coffee house following some fruity internet exchanges and appear to hit it off. Their easy banter begins to flow naturally and seems kind of innocent if a little sexually barbed, then Hayley agrees to leave with Jeff and go to his swish apartment cum studio and things take a much darker turn. At this point many of the audience should hear the sound of alarm bells ringing. In an ideal world Hayley should never have gone to meet Jeff in the first place and in a less morally moribund world Jeff should've simply left the coffee shop when he discovers his `date' to be so young. It's a pertinent point in modern society that danger is not often as immediate or as obvious as you might think.

Spade's screenplay crackles with witty dialogue and pop culture references, the twists and turns come thick and fast despite the central and claustrophobic setting. The two chief players are framed in close up for much of the movie, meaning that the performances have to be right on the button in order for Hard Candy to be an effective two hander. Ellen Page is a terrifying Lolita, part woman scorned, part wide-eyed teenager and part Charles Bronson. Her stand out turn is guaranteed to scare the wits out of male audiences the world over and although played as a little too cocksure, her performance here is set to take her into the big league. Wilson also deserves credit as he lends certain credibility and charm to the nominal `villain' of the piece who would so often be branded sleazy or a recluse outsider. His delivery ensures the terror and impact of what you (thankfully) do not see on screen is fully realized.

The talking point of Hard Candy is predictably the lengthy torture scene involving some impromptu amateur surgery and this key sequence is essentially the crux of Spade's film. Here, despite you being convinced that Jeff is a bit of a creep, you can't help but empathize with his plight. Or can you? There in lies Spade's intelligent juxtaposition, the fact that you never actually see any firm evidence to suggest Jeff's guilt, means that it's Hayley's word against his and Hayley, it seems, happens to be a bit deranged. Or is she? In keeping much of Hayley's motivation ambiguous and avoiding giving hard evidence of her accusations leveled at Jeff, the audience is left to decide whether Hayley is within her rights as a would be post modern vigilante and if Jeff is even deserving of such an act? The `did he/didn't he?' aspect of the screenplay certainly ratchets the tension when the scalpel finally comes out, but will no doubt divide audiences once the end credits roll.

Hard Candy is grueling viewing (male audiences will wince throughout) and it's not likely to be a movie watched repeatedly. David Slade's feature debut has attracted critical praise, most of which deservedly due to two fine central performances but it's not without faults, Hard Candy treads dangerously close to parody when the message, although hidden in satirical overtones, becomes increasingly fractured. Hamstrung slightly by an ending that feels a little too convenient and moments of daft character decisions, this thought provoking piece falls short of the movie it will be inevitable compared to, namely Takashi Miike's `Audition'. It is though a relevant topical feature that sparks debate on a subject often considered too taboo for mainstream cinema.

One piece of advice: avoid this movie if you are intending to embark on a nice romantic date. It'll only end in tears.

Edge of the Seat!!!!
I watched this film without knowing anything about it. There was I sitting down to a two hour horror hoping to be entertained and I must say that I have never ever been so taken in by a film. The plot is well described by others on here so no need to go there and I would not wish to take any of the thrill out of the film by telling the plot. I hate people who do that. What I would say is that the film had me looking away and praying that what the young girl said she was going to do she wouldn't do - but anticipation is a real thrill ride here.

Great casting and only five actors. I wonder why this film never got the acclaim it deserves? This knocks Saw and Hostel for six. This is a real thrill a minute and whilst you may guess what is about to happen, it has enough plot turns to keep you on edge.

How can I not give it 5 out of 5?