Hard Candy is an horrific film. It’s creepy and downright scary at times. But is it a horror film?Hard Candy is the story of a 14-year-old girl named Hayley who hooks up with a 30-something photographer named Jeff online. The two meet at a local coffee shop and, after some rather disturbing scenes of flirtation, end up going back to his home. Jeff comes across as a slimy perv in the coffee shop scenes and despite the fact that he’s supposed to be a hip and happening guy, he’s really no different than the pervs in those Dateline NBC stings. When the two get back to his home, Hayley turns the table on Jeff and makes him the prey. It’s an interesting twist and reminded me a bit of Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden. The story unfolds and we learn that Hayley is not nearly the cherubic angel she has pretended to be. She is disturbed and mentally unstable.
Not a lot happens in the film. Both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson give standout performances. I’ve read certain reviews which place sympathy with Jeff’s character. Regardless of Wilson’s performance, I don’t feel any kinship with a pedophile. Any adult man who doesn’t realize that trying to fuck a 14-year-old is wrong deserves to be tortured. The surprising thing about this film is it’s total lack of gore. Director David Slade pulls off that rare accomplishment of making us cringe without showing us a drop of blood.
Hard Candy is not a horror film. I don’t really understand the marketing of the film as such. Even more confusing is the film’s inclusion at the fuse Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Ellen Page is nominated for Creepiest Kid and both Page and Wilson are nominated for Relationship From Hell. What the fuck? Did some douche forget that this is a film that deals with a sexual predator? This is a drama that deals with some serious issues of morality. And finally, don’t bother visiting the IMDB message boards for more insight on this film. You will find yourself seriously questioning the intelligence of the human race.
5 responses so far ↓
Mob // September 27, 2006 at 12:55 am
Gawdamn, morbid curiousity led me to check out the IMDB boards on this one in spite of your warning…yeesh.
I’m with you on the Fango awards thing…relationship from hell? WTF?
T Van // September 27, 2006 at 9:24 am
I should know by now that the IMDB boards are for morons but it never stops me from checking them out. I could not get over the number of idiots out there who were defending the guy in this movie.
SikeChick // September 27, 2006 at 2:19 pm
I wanted to see Hard Candy when it was in theatres, but it only played at one of those arthouse joints which I hate. I’m still intrigued, so I will Netflix it.
I’ve also been slacking on my movie-watching (and I don’t have a wedding as an excuse). I Netflixed something called Just Before Dawn 3 weeks ago, and still haven’t watched it. I’ll try to watch it tonight…since Dateline isn’t on.
BTW, tried checking out the IMDb boards, but they are too spoilerific so I’ll be late to the party of complaining about the creeps.
T Van // September 27, 2006 at 5:58 pm
I think you’ll find Hard Candy to be intriguing. The IMDB boards are almost always full of spoilers. I try to avoid them until after I’ve seen a film.
SikeChick // October 4, 2006 at 2:31 pm
I saw it and I just didn’t like it very much.