Haley (Page) is more than the average 14 year old. Sure, she likes all the pop bands that a teenage girl should, dresses to the role of a freshman in high school and all that, she is impressively well read, smart, and witty. She knows what she wants, and at this point in time, it is Jeff (Wilson), a 32 year old photographer who has befriended Haley after meeting online. The movie opens with Jeff and Haley deciding to meet up at a local coffee shop where they talk and decide that it's probably best if they drive to Jeff's place and get to know each other a little better. The movie at this point proves disturbing just because of the burning desire to grab this girl and scream "Don't do that" in her face... but as the movie continues, it becomes abundantly clear that Haley is the one in control the whole time.
I really don't want to give anything away other than my thoughts on the movie, ultimately... because if, and when you see this, it is best to go into this with as little spoiled as possible. The entire movie only features four people with speaking roles, and the two who are not Page and Wilson hardly have any screen time at that. Regardless, Haley and Jeff have some extremely fantastic exchanges of dialog, and the roles played by both are just short of perfection. Page plays the part of a teenage nymphomaniac superbly, and Wilson is without a doubt one of the most convincing pedophile turned victims in modern cinema. What I'm getting at, is that these are two roles that Hollywood has yet to mainstream.. at least on the screen together, successfully- until now.
This film is impressive. It is extremely well acted, directed, edited and .. should really not be seen by anyone other than those in the mood for some intense, gut-wrenching horror. It is at this moment where I am trying to sum up the film, however, and can not. There is no one real moment that sits on top of everything else, but rather the culmination of so many things coming together at once-- from the tone, to the actions delivered on film, this is one film that I am glad I saw, but would think twice before recommending it to anyone aside from those knowing what they're getting themselves into.
Bitter is the best way to describe it, really; Such a fantastically delivered film, but so horrendous in its subject matter and approach. It wasn't until the ride back that I realized the best way to put it into words, thinking back to the people walking out in the middle of the film, and the end when the audience didn't really know what to do but get up and evacuate the theatre as quickly as possible, that Hard Candy is/was the reason to see horror movies. You keep searching from one film to the next for that one movie that just.. messes with your head. Not necessarily the one that scares you, but the one that doesn't let you smile for the next two or three days... and that movie is Hard Candy. I know that there are already reviews saying that the characters are shallow, the plot is too edgy, what have you.. and I will tell you that if you like horror or stories that push the boundaries, this is your movie.
I really don't want to give anything away other than my thoughts on the movie, ultimately... because if, and when you see this, it is best to go into this with as little spoiled as possible. The entire movie only features four people with speaking roles, and the two who are not Page and Wilson hardly have any screen time at that. Regardless, Haley and Jeff have some extremely fantastic exchanges of dialog, and the roles played by both are just short of perfection. Page plays the part of a teenage nymphomaniac superbly, and Wilson is without a doubt one of the most convincing pedophile turned victims in modern cinema. What I'm getting at, is that these are two roles that Hollywood has yet to mainstream.. at least on the screen together, successfully- until now.
This film is impressive. It is extremely well acted, directed, edited and .. should really not be seen by anyone other than those in the mood for some intense, gut-wrenching horror. It is at this moment where I am trying to sum up the film, however, and can not. There is no one real moment that sits on top of everything else, but rather the culmination of so many things coming together at once-- from the tone, to the actions delivered on film, this is one film that I am glad I saw, but would think twice before recommending it to anyone aside from those knowing what they're getting themselves into.
Bitter is the best way to describe it, really; Such a fantastically delivered film, but so horrendous in its subject matter and approach. It wasn't until the ride back that I realized the best way to put it into words, thinking back to the people walking out in the middle of the film, and the end when the audience didn't really know what to do but get up and evacuate the theatre as quickly as possible, that Hard Candy is/was the reason to see horror movies. You keep searching from one film to the next for that one movie that just.. messes with your head. Not necessarily the one that scares you, but the one that doesn't let you smile for the next two or three days... and that movie is Hard Candy. I know that there are already reviews saying that the characters are shallow, the plot is too edgy, what have you.. and I will tell you that if you like horror or stories that push the boundaries, this is your movie.