January 23rd, 2007 by Brent
Hard Candy was a film released in 2005 that I really wanted to see in theaters, but for some reason or another, never got around too. So, while I was in Blockbuster the other day, I decided to rent it. It turns out Hardy Candy is a great little movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The film begins with an internet chat session between a young, but very mature 14 year old girl named Hayley (Ellen Page) and a thirty something photographer by the name of Jeff (Patrick Wilson). The two flirt with each other before deciding to meet in person at a local coffee shop. The flirting continues in person until they decide to head back to Jeff's house. It's here that we not only find out what Jeff is hiding, but that Hayley may be hiding something as well.
The film's uses the very serious issue of pedophiles and child predators as the basis for the plot, but never really provides a dialogue to discuss that topic which may cause some to feel that the film exploits the issue. I personally think that the film's goal was not to discuss pedophiles, but instead use it as a plot device for a suspenseful and thrilling movie. And because of that I found it very entertaining.
And although the actual child predator issue is only somewhat teased at and never dealt with, the film will have you questioning right and wrong in other aspects. Again, I don't want to say too much, but you'll most definitely want to talk about this one once the credits roll.
The performances in the film are outstanding and really help to carry some of the slower moments. Both Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page prove to be very talented and I can't wait to see more of them.
If you are looking for a good suspenseful flick for a Saturday night, I highly recommend check this one out.
| Quick Review | |
|---|---|
| Plot/Storyline The serious issue of pedophiles and child predators is used as the basis, but the film is more about suspense. |
8.5 |
| Acting/Characters Great acting here from the young and upcoming Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson. Some cool and creepy performances. |
9 |
| Visuals/Sound A really great style that I enjoyed, but some may fine a bit distracting due to some camera placement. I thought it looked great. |
9 |
| Replay Like many thrillers, the suspense is lost once you know the ending, but I still think the performances make it worth a second viewing. |
7.5 |
| Overall Rating: | 8.5 |
| All scores are out of 10. Overall score is not an average. | |
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