Haggisboy
30-04-2006, 10:30 AM
It’s rare that I will set out to write a film review, only to find myself staring at the blinking cursor on the screen pondering how to begin as I replay scenes from a film over and over again in my mind. Such is the impediment that Hard Candy (http://hardcandymovie.com/) throws up. Essentially a two person play, the film efficiently takes character preconceptions and turns them on their head.
The film tells the story of Jeff (Patrick Wilson in what is arguably is breakout role) and 14 year-old Hayley (Canadian actress Ellen Page, soon to be seen in X-Men III). The two hook up in an Internet chat room and the film begins with them agreeing to meet after three months of online conversation.
At first encounter viewer unease sets in as Jeff appears to carry the unusually comfortable air of a pedophile predator when he is met with Hayley’s obvious underage status. For her part, Hayley, who clearly should know better, appears uncommonly forward and confident. Simply put, all is not as it should be, and so begins the spiral of viewer unease as the two begin their moth and flame dance.
Directed by relative newcomer David Slade, and written by television scriptwriter Brian Nelson, the movie not only messes heavily with the notion of just who is predator and who is prey, but remarkably manages to deliver moments of intense gore using nothing but dialogue. And yet, in spite of this, the movie had me squirming into the depths of my seat.
In spite of its strengths, Hard Candy has a few knocks against it. The gore crowd that may be drawn to this film seeking another Hostel will be sadly disappointed. Others will find the subject matter of pedophilia and online stalking make for uncomfortable viewing. And still others will be disappointed in a film that is sparse on action and heavy on dialogue. If, however, you want a riveting psychological drama that will have you thinking and talking about it long after you leave the theatre, Hard Candy will go down easy, even if it does leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
The film tells the story of Jeff (Patrick Wilson in what is arguably is breakout role) and 14 year-old Hayley (Canadian actress Ellen Page, soon to be seen in X-Men III). The two hook up in an Internet chat room and the film begins with them agreeing to meet after three months of online conversation.
At first encounter viewer unease sets in as Jeff appears to carry the unusually comfortable air of a pedophile predator when he is met with Hayley’s obvious underage status. For her part, Hayley, who clearly should know better, appears uncommonly forward and confident. Simply put, all is not as it should be, and so begins the spiral of viewer unease as the two begin their moth and flame dance.
Directed by relative newcomer David Slade, and written by television scriptwriter Brian Nelson, the movie not only messes heavily with the notion of just who is predator and who is prey, but remarkably manages to deliver moments of intense gore using nothing but dialogue. And yet, in spite of this, the movie had me squirming into the depths of my seat.
In spite of its strengths, Hard Candy has a few knocks against it. The gore crowd that may be drawn to this film seeking another Hostel will be sadly disappointed. Others will find the subject matter of pedophilia and online stalking make for uncomfortable viewing. And still others will be disappointed in a film that is sparse on action and heavy on dialogue. If, however, you want a riveting psychological drama that will have you thinking and talking about it long after you leave the theatre, Hard Candy will go down easy, even if it does leave a bitter taste in your mouth.