Production Year: 2006 - Thriller - Director: David Slade - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Sandra Oh, Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Jennifer Holmes more
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... more
Hard Candy DVD
A smart and charming teenage girl Hayley probably shouldn't be going to a local coffee ... more
shop to meet Jeff a 30 something fashion photographer she met on the internet. But before she knows it she's mixing drinks at Jeff's place and stripping off for a...
Hard Candy
A smart, charming teenage girl, Hayley (Ellen Page) probably shouldn't be going to a local ... more
coffee shop to meet Jeff (Patrick Wilson), a 30-something fashion photographer she met on the Internet. But before she knows it, she's mixing drinks at Jeff's place and stripping for an impromptu photo shoot. It's Jeff's lucky night. But Hayley isn't as innocent as she looks, and the night takes a sinister turn for the worse when she begins to exact her unique brand of revenge on Jeff for scandalous crimes she believes he has committed in the past.
Hard Candy - CD
Hard Candy American Girls Good Time If I Could Give All My Love (Richard Manuel Is Dead) ... more
Goodnight L.A. Butterfly In Reverse Miami New Frontier Carriage Black And Blue Why Should You Come When I Call? Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes To Hollywood) Holiday In Spain 4 White Stallions (UK Bonus Track) You Ain't Going Nowhere (UK Bonus Track)
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
This product has not yet been reviewed. Rate it now
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Matt Dillon - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Gerard Depardieu, Sereyvuth Kem, Stellan Skarsgard
A review by Morning_Becomes_Electra on Hard Candy (DVD) March 21st, 2008
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Liked it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
A good thriller with lots of twists .
Disadvantages:
The subject .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
- HARD CANDY-
Hard Candy was Released in 2006 and Directed by David Slade (30 Days of Night) Under the Genre Drama/Thriller. Starring Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy is an uncomfortable film that deals with the subject of paedophilia, and it is written by David W Higgins. -
- SYNOPSIS -
The film opens with Hayley (Ellen Page) and Jeff (Patrick Wilson) talking to each other in a 'Teen' chat room on the Internet. As they type out their messages the conversation is gearing towards the sexual. Jeff is open about his age which is thirty two, but nonetheless he is obviously charming and expertly 'grooming' this fourteen year old girl. She in turn is flattered and inquisitive about this man who compliments and flatters her throughout the chat room session. They have been regularly chatting for a couple of weeks now and Hayley is beginning to relax and feel comfortable with Jeff, and she is innocently flirting and teasing him. They arrange to meet later that night for a coffee. He takes her out, feeds her, and generally shows her a good time, impressing her with his knowledge of current music. He also buys her a present, a green T-shirt. So, cleverly, he has gained her trust, taken her for a meal, impressed her with his money and made her feel totally at ease. He has completed his final stage of 'Grooming', and he invites her back to his rather impressive house, somewhere out of town.
Jeff is a photographer and he specialises in the photography of young girls. His walls are covered in large portraits of nubile teenage girls. Though tastefully shot, there is something morally wrong to see these blown up images hanging in the home of a thirty two year old man. Hayley is flirty and excited and she decides to make cocktails from what she can find in Jeff's fridge, saying she never accepts a drink that she hasn't prepared herself. Hayley is very talkative and suggestive. She is mature for her age, mentally and also very intelligent. As she sits on his large sofa in her red hooodie, her tiny frame looks so vulnerable, and I begin to sense the awful wrongness of this situation. Jeff seems charming but guarded, seemingly being careful not to let anything get out of hand, as they get drunk together on the cocktails that Hayley has prepared. -
- MY OPINION -
Well, this was never going to be an easy film to make. I can't think of too many films that touch on the subject of paedophilia. It's a bit of a grey area really, and I can't think of many people that would consider this an evening's entertainment. Nonetheless, it is an awful reality, and policing the Internet is an arduous task. The subject is sensitively handled but it is nonetheless present, and it is this that gives the film its sickening 'edge'. Tagged as the Controversial thriller of the year, the films subject leaves a lot to be desired.
Ellen Page is brilliant as the teenage girl, Hayley. She is a very natural and versatile actress, she has an appealing, vulnerable quality about her, and she is perfectly cast in this role. She plays the 'innocent' girl who is seemingly outwitted by the devious tactics of an older, sexually deviant man, extremely well. You have great sympathy and fear at her plight, and you feel real empathy towards the child that is 'In too deep'. The film is made so much more frightening because of its subject, as you are never quite sure if you are going to be seeing anything that goes totally against the grain of morality.
Hayley is dressed in a red hoodie for a great deal of the films duration, and much is made of this 'Little Red Riding Hood' reference; The wolf being Jeff; and it is depicted with real clarity as the close up camerawork flicks between the two characters in this torrid game of cat and mouse. Hard Candy is a 'Two Hander', there are other very small appearances, but this is very much a two man show. This film has an atmosphere that is full of suspense throughout, and visually chilling connotations as the story shifts its goalposts. Hard Candy has a very clever storyline, well written and deceptive. You won't see the twist coming, and when it does, it notches up the tension to nigh on breaking point. The dialogue is clever and extremely well written, and the two actors work well together, though I did feel that Patrick Wilson was a bit laid back in the part, and not entirely convincing in his portrayal of the sexual predator.
The musical score is simple and used economically throughout the film. We are given ambient sounds, breathing, flutes, strings, and metronome, ticking which adds to the psychological suspense which builds insidiously. Goldfrapp supply the soundtrack as does the electronic dance music which blasts out mercilessly in our ears. This is David Slades debut as a film director, coming hot from the music scene, where he previously worked mainly on music videos. I think he has done an excellent job here, and given Hard Candy a different feel, especially when it comes to the amazing cinematography at use within the film. The camerawork was fantastic. I haven't actually seen camerawork used like this before, and it was this that made the tension so nail bitingly brilliant for me. It was panoramic around the actors, almost acting as an observer, as it spun at great speed around them and oversaw the situation. This is very effective and had me feeling really uneasy.
As the action is all inside the house for most of the running time of the film, the use of digital handheld camera gave the impression of movement, which heightened the awareness of the situation for me. The very slowly moving quality of the camera at times gives a slightly surreal feel reinforcing the unnatural situation we are watching. I like the use of colour filters too, as they backed up feelings present and presented the characters in cold neutral shades depicting lack of emotions, or the blue to give a chilling light to the proceedings. In fact the digital colourist used revolutionary effects within the film which I found quite stunning, and it is the first time that a digital colourist has been credited. I think coming from the world of the music video has given David Slade a different slant when approaching the film world, and I liked the differences that the film contained from this first time director.
This is very much a psychological thriller with the film playing mind games with its audience. You are never really quite sure if the events that you are witnessing are going to take an about turn at any moment. The film really keeps you on your toes, and it has that 'not quite sure' element all the way through, and one which sits uneasily upon you. I feel the film, good as it was, was a little too long, and I felt that I'd had more than enough by the time the film had finally reach its climax. The story appeared to be drawn out a little towards the end and could easily have been wrapped up sooner than it was. That said it's still a very good thriller, and one that has many twists to it. It is a dark subject, but it is handled well. So don't let the films subject put you off watching it. It's a solid film, tense and unpredictable.-
Running Time: 103 minutes.
IMDB Rating: 18 For disturbing violent and sexual content involving a teen.
Starring Ellen Page Patrick Wilson Odessa Rae Sandra Oh
Advantages: Great storyline, lots of twists Disadvantages: Precarious subject
...should be worried for?
Hard Candy was described as the most controversial thriller of 2006 for dealing with subjects that most other movies wouldn’t dream of even passing by let alone creating an entire movie based around it. The subject of paedophilia surrounds the entire movie and is the motive for what happens throughout the film, fortunately the film doesn’t go into details like I was half expecting it to, when Hayley finds pictures in Jeff’s ... ...paedophile or not makes it hard for you to connect with either character, you don’t know whether to feel sorry for Jeff as a result of a tragic case of mistaken identity or think that he’s getting exactly what he deserves. The same goes for Hayley, you don’t know whether to back her up or condemn her for what she’s doing to what could be an innocent man. Having said that, the acting is fantastic from both parties involved, this is basically a two ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A tense little thriller Disadvantages: The complete underuse of Sandra Oh
Jeff Kohlver is a successful photographer who lives by himself and has a penchant for teenage girls on chatrooms. His walls are covered in poses that he has taken of aspiring models who might or might not be jailbait age. When he chats to clever Hayley, aged 14, he arranges to meet her in a coffee house. She is seemingly impressed by his knowledge of the bands and literature that is relevant to her, and agrees to go home with him. They both seem ... ...to let her sister know where she is, she refuses to let him mix her drinks for her. Its a shame he didn't apply those rules for himself, because a time later he wakes up from a drugged stupor tied to a chair. What seems to begin as a game of control on her part soon takes a sinister turn as revenge becomes the key to the story.
This film relies on the performances of its two leads (who are two of only four characters to appear in the film), as most ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Novel storyline and interesting 'torture' techniques! Disadvantages: unlikeable characters
Hard Candy is an extremely provocative film but one laced with many flawes. Ellen Page (of Juno fame) plays a 13 year old girl meeting Patrick Wilson supposed Peodophile. The premise is an interesting one: Take a clever young girl who is aware of the mans intentions and turn the table so the she is the one in control. However, whilst I can get with the idea that she can overpower him with a cocktail of drugs, I find it difficult to imagine her dragging ... ...annd the many other elaborate feats she endured in order to torture him. Because of the notion that Patrick Wilson was a Peodophile and Ellen Page was torturing him in such a methopdical way, it was difficult to find anything likeable in either character which lead to me not really caring about what happended (apart fromt he castration scene where I could 'feel' Patricks pain!)
Like I say, an interesting premise, but not very well excecuted ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Very gripping! Although occasionally dificult to watch due to psychological thrills I found it difficult to look away. Both main parts were filled by powerful and enthusiastic actors. As the film goes on the viewer is wrenched from opinion to another and forced to make judgements about each character role without fully understanding who the people are or why they are doing what they are doing. Also the manor in which the film is shot is very modern ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: This film with have you glued Disadvantages: none
The couple first meet at a Nighthawks cafe after spending some time chatting on the web. After a breif chat and a little flirting from Hayley Stark (Ellen Page),a 14 year old girl, she suggests that they go back to Jeff Kohlver's (Patrick Wilson),a 32 year old photographer, home to listen to a recording of a Goldfrapp concert. Whilst their Hayley makes them both a drink,namely a Screwball. After a drink Hayley suggests Jeff should takes some pictures ... ...home. Hayley dances on the sofa whilst Jeff passes out. When he comes to he is bound to a chair.
This is a "does exactly what it says on the tin" film. Its a nice twist on the normal storyline for this kind of film, normally being the adult is the one in control. The performances from Ellen and Patrick are beleivable,even to the point i nearly felt sorry for Jeff when he's trying to convince Hayley of his innocence. Little red riding hood has nothing ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Compelling two handed movie Disadvantages: I knew too much before viewing thus ruining large elements.
.... The next area for addressing in my eyes is the ridiculous ending. It's a terrible disappointment, the ending requires a certain amount of participation by the then less in control character, the response to which is to me lacking in substance to create the response it gets; and as a result this ruins the good work of the previous 100 minutes. But again with little knowledge of the stories subject matter this may have a different response.
My final word to you dear reader, is that if you are reading about this movie for the first time don't be tempted to find out more before viewing. Don't discuss the movie with friends prior to viewing, and if your buying or renting then don't read the back cover or view the trailer prior to viewing.
HardCandy is available due on DVD in the United Kingdom on September the 22nd; there are no special...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great perfomance from Ellen Page, an intriguing thriller Disadvantages: Doesn't quite live up to all the hype
...sticks in your mind.
"HardCandy" has been tagged by many as the most controversial thriller of the year. Though I wouldn't go so far as to place it among the top flight of thrillers, it is certainly intriguing. It turns the tables on the viewers and characters, teasing out a virtuoso performance from Ellen Page that should kickstart her movie career. However, the final few minutes are a tad anti-climactic and the film could have done with a firmer hand in the editing. With a few tweaks here and there it could have been a great film. As it stands it is merely a good one - but that's no bad thing....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Plot: 14-year-old Haley and 32-year-old fashion photographer Jeff--who have previously met in an online chat room--meet in a coffee shop. She suggests that they go back to his place and he complies. Before anything happens between them, Jeff passes out under the influence of the drugs she's slipped him.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): LIONS GATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT; ELEVATION SALES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date: 30/10/2006
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 9382201000
Barcode: 5060052410979
Music: Molly Nyman, Harry Escott
Cinematographer: Jo Willems
Editor: Art Jones
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Director and writer's commentary, Commentary with actors Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page, Deleted and extended scenes, Documentary, Featurette, Scrip and director's notebook
DVD Description
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.
Professional reviews
Review: This year's most controversial thriller (Daily Mirror, 04/10/2006)
Destined to be one of the most talked about films of the year (Now, 04/10/2006)
Spectacular (Variety, 04/10/2006)
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Listed on Ciao since : 03/01/2007
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