Hard Candy (2005)
High level sexual references, high level violence
| Director: | David Slade |
| Actors: | Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh |
Hard Candy is an edge-of-your-seat psychotic thriller as incisive as it is stylish, delivering a provocative take on the revenge drama while jangling the nerves at every turn. A smart, charming, mature 14-year old teenage girl, Hayley (Ellen Page) probably shouldn’t be going to a local coffee shop to meet Jeff (Patrick Wilson), a charming 32-year old 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 turn when she begins to impose a hard-hitting investigation on Jeff in an attempt to reveal his possibly scandalous past...
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 104mins |
| Origin: | UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 Enhanced |
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Member Reviews (95)
95 Member
Reviews
CC
says
While Ellen Page gives yet another impressive performance, the character she is made to inhabit is so totally unbelievable, and her actions so totally preposterous, that it turns what could have been an incisive look at the horror that is paedophilia into an overblown overlong ridiculous waste of viewing time. Totally disappointing. Check out Ellen Page's talents in any of her other movies instead. My one star rating is solely for Page's performance. The script gets zero from me.
Davo
says
Terrible waste of time sick and horrible
Lee
says
Fantastic acting....very tense, loved it......don't get the bad reviews.......people don't seem to like anything that's not "formula". Four stars
AK
says
Total rubbish and waste of time.
KD
says
A film that leaves you feeling a little creeped out, not mention the whole storyline is just a far too weird. The acting was believable, it's just a shame the dialogue let them down big time. After what seemed like an eternity of build up to something 'big', the movie ends on something far from a high note. Disappointing.
@_@
says
Possibly the best film I have ever seen.
The colour and the cinematography in this film is AMAZING. Astounding colour. Beautiful.
So much thought. The narrative is brilliant, interesting and exciting and the small cast is incredibly strong.
It's interesting to see Ellen Page before she became a Hipster Deity.
Amazingly coloured/shot film. Phenomenal.
JULIE
says
I quite enjoyed this movie. Almost felt sorry for the guy at times. Acting was good.
I found it quite difficult to watch at time but the suspense was good. A little different to what usually is out there.
Elibby
says
Extremely tense and quite disturbing, you just can't predict where this movie will go. Stunning acting, but definitely not something everyone would enjoy, and it doesn't lead you to any moral judgements which is unusual in a movie.
Bron
says
"Eh Eh Eh I'll get you pretty"....what a wicked little 13yo but then again the Pedophile deserved it!
juliekym
says
Rivetting from beginning to end. Not what I expected.
650pete
says
What an execellent movie. Nobody special in it, but really gripping all the way to the end. Really enjoyable
Em
says
Great acting, good solid movie. No idea why it's R rated though!
Erinn
says
It kept building up to an intnese ending that never really happened. Had the potential to take the storyline to many different places and it never did get there.
on the whole, dissappointed.
B. Hook
says
This isn't for everyone, but anyone who likes psych-thrillers, this is a must watch!
Personally, I did not morally agree with the story, but sure as hell did it entertain me, and I'd classify this is one of my favourite films of all time.
The production, script, and the acting (especially the acting) are all in the A catagory.
10/10
MichaelC
says
A good thriller. Quite a confronting flick that messes with your head a bit. Recommended
garyp
says
greatshow keeps you guessing
Marg
says
Don't watch if you're looking for a relaxing, entertaining afternoon at the movies!!! But it's still a really interesting watch and pretty out there! Slow story but it builds dramatically and keeps you watching to see what eventuates. Intense and provocative and worth the watch if you're prepared for something confronting and different.
Kyra
says
i like this movie and the way it makes you feel sorry for the petafile, makes you think, i love those kind of movies.
Danny
says
Boring.. Low Budget and just plain Boring.. Rated R.. For Ridiculous
Bernadette
says
Too slow, too much talking.
David A.
says
Pretentiousness is acccurate for this movie. Contains no entertainment value. A self rightous killer is still a killer, especially one that drugs, tortures and presume guilt to satisfy a desire to kill should not be considered entertainment.
David B.
says
This left me flaccid. All the way through the film, I was on the edge of my seat. Every now and then, a new tidbit would emerge and I'd nearly fall off the lounge! The history of each of the characters was so vague, that you really felt that it could go either way. And the cinematography was so amazing - especially the use of the walls in his home as transitions. While watching it, I was thinking that it had the edge of 'Se7en', the ambiguity of 'Doubt' (I've only seen the stage show) and the twisted perversion of 'Boxing Helena' (maybe not a good comparison...) Then, at the end, it seemed like the film-makers had run out of ideas and needed to find the quickest way to wrap the story up. Could've been great. But wasn't. I bet people who like this movie read Dan Brown "for fun" in their spare time.
Anita
says
I watched this because I love Ellen Page in Juno. This movie scared me a bit, very full on and confronting.
Margaret
says
Good Psychological movie this one. A REAL mind screw up-LOL. If you like PSychologicals you'll LOVE this one!!
Cash
says
great concept but the suspense kept building with not enough happening. worth a watch for something different.
Jennifer
says
Wow, that was awesome. Talked about it for days afterwards.
Matt C.
says
A good little thriller keeps you guessing till the end. Ellen Page is great in this.
Zoe J.
says
Loved it. Makes me think twice about internet chat though..
Heidi
says
tHIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. IT KEPT ME GOING RIGHT TO THE END. HOW NASTY SOME TEENAGE GIRLS CAN BE BUT OF COURSE SHE DOES HAVE MENTAL PROBLEMS
Mario C.
says
Good film and agree hard one to walk away from
Jeff
says
Was a bit worried after the first 15mins, wasn't sure what I had got myself into. But after this found myself engrossed with what was to follow. Pretty well done.
Carly R.
says
This movie is definitely worth watching, but I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to do so, and really get a lot out of it. It deals with some very uncomfortable issues, but does so by using such a brilliantly unpredictable character, that you can't help but be drawn into the whole process. Not the kind of film you want to watch on a lighthearted friday night though. Be prepared to have some boundaries challenged.
Laurie L.
says
Brilliant - not only a tense drama, but it raised important issues, and the treatment was challenging and uncompromising. I was absorbed from beginning to end.
Renee
says
great movie definitely made on a budget but the acting was absolutely brilliant. thought provoking to say the least.
Nathan
says
This movie had me guessing all the way through, and needs to be followed closely to understand exactly what is happening. Having said all that, it is a great film and well worth the watch. The young chick from Juno, I cant remember her name now, plays a brilliant part.
Samantha H.
says
weird good movie for man haters.!!
Nigel W.
says
Very good performances by the leads but in the end the film somehow failed to create sufficient suspense and tension to transcend what was a fairly predictable revenge drama (despite producers claims of originality).
Douglas K.
says
Without a doubt one of the most frightening movies I have seen. Any guy who can sit throught this movie without some feelings of dread, or at least certain discomfort, I would like to meet. Many times I was tempted to stop the movie, but had to watch it to the end, to find what was really going on. Lots of twists
Okto F.
says
3 and a half stars. Certain part is a bit fuzzy. But overall it's entertaining.
Michael W.
says
Incredible movie. Distinct style. Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page are awesome. Didn't know how it would end.
Felicia N.
says
fantastic! how good is Ellen Page gonna be ?
Gerd H.
says
A movie that’s hard to know exactly what it is: thriller, crime, revenge or all of those? But it’s really more of a character study of two very different protagonists. And very well done too. It has so many twists that it never gets boring and certainly leaves the viewer with plenty of think about.
Michael G.
says
I thought this was a rivetting film. Ellen Page was great, scary and confronting. The whole premise of the film would film most guys with dread and pleasure that they wouldn't ever find themselves in this guys position.
Darren M.
says
Strange but watchable.
Ian G.
says
Not my type of movie.
Katie W.
says
wow! what a film... It really makes you think about the sort of people that live in this world. The whole meeting via the internet thing really highlights the danger of the fascination the younger generation have with chatrooms etc. The leads were brilliant, especially Ellen. This movie is rough and quite confronting at times eg the surgery. Its had quite an affect on me - I think the memory of this film will stay with me for sometime.
Colin Y.
says
Hated this movie, it's all dialogue, none of the characters are particularly likeable and the "hero" of the movie is just too obnoxious. I know the movie was designed this way, it just doesn't work for me. Add an overlong cringe-worthy torture scene and you end up with a very unlikeable movie.
Gab H.
says
Sick! Sick! But I really enjoyed it! Very clever, but it left us with some unanswered questions. It never really told us what actually motivated this 14 year old to do this? And was she really just 14? Great movie - sick - but great.
Simon Z.
says
exceptionally well made film. at times a bit slow moving but delivered overall.
Michele G.
says
Cynthia R.
says
weak
Wayne W.
says
This was a real surprise. Didn't know the actors. It is essentially a story with a cast of 2 and very limited location changes. Very well scripted and acted. Not a lot of suspense, mainly intrigue and along with the fast dialogue, keeps you rivetted. Slightly off the beaten track, still Hollywood but different. Others broadly in this ballpark, 11:14, Shallow grave, The Machinist.
Pauline P.
says
Too much! I know paedophiles should be punished but this crosses the line in good taste. Hard to watch.
Ian H.
says
Not quite what you expect.
Confronting well scripted and the female lead was awesome
Kevin B.
says
difficult. Perhaps too American.
Alison S.
says
Andrew H.
says
Solid performances by the two cast members. It's not easy to decide whether she is insane or a super hero. At the end, I went with the latter... Sandra Oh gets a credit for a 60 second apperance. What the?
Megan S.
says
A unique concept of who a victim is - the beginning does not even begin to hint at where the film will end up. It is worth getting to the end
Damien P.
says
this movie very cheap to be made of...
Brooke H.
says
BRILLIANT!!!!!!!
Vicki S.
says
Vin B.
says
went over my head
Linda R.
says
Charles T.
says
Kristy C.
says
It's a very different movie.
Shelley G.
says
very good, worth wathching
Alfred S.
says
A true edge-of-your-seat thriller. Your eyes will be firmly fixed to the screen for the entire movie as you won't want to miss what may happen next. I cannot say much more without spoiling it for you but it is well worth watching.
Robert H.
says
I am not sure how to rate this movie.It was hard to know who in the story to was the bad person.The girl in this was such a great little actress and played her part to perfection.I cringed when she had the man on the table all tied down and started to operate.Although the punishment was harsh I tend to believe this is the only way to treat people who stalk and hard our children.This was a very brave movie to cover this type of behavior and deal with it,in such a strong and visual manner.I still have strong emotions when I think of this movie.
Dan
says
Pretty unconvincing storyline with a few gaping holes. At times delved into talky pretentiousness, and has a grim ending leaving you wishing you had quit while you were ahead.
Suzanne F.
says
Martine L.
says
arghh!
Shaun O.
says
What a fantistic thriller - kept me on the edge of my seat and I thought she really did the surgry!
Graham R.
says
Sarah T.
says
The young actress in this film is very convincing from start to finish. Maybe a bit hard to believe that a 13 year old could be so conniving, but that just tempts me to read the book and fill in "between the lines". Definitely makes you sit up and pay attention to the new generations way of thinking!
Inze
says
On your toes, on the edge of your seat, holy toledo stuff this one. Hard Candy - Whole Day Sucker and more. Hayley was brilliant and very, very convincing. All people who interfere or even think about interfering with young children and vulnerable teenagers, be afraid, be very afraid if you have to face your demon [Hayley]. A very powerful performance and great support from Jeff. The excellent direction kept me riveted til the end. Well done!
meryl
says
I really enjoyed this movie. What a vindictive young girl. It shows the other side of the internet as you only hear about men stalking young girls.
Col D.
says
Gus D.
says
Henk H.
says
It should happen to all paedophiles.
Still not sure if she did "it" for real? Leaves you up in the air.
Bertram T.
says
Too long, slow moving and in my view a waste of time
Samantha K.
says
Nan T.
says
I recognise that this film was well made and the acting excellent but I found the subject matter distasteful. My husband however thought it a well made film and worth watching.
Jodi M.
says
Lisa W.
says
This rating is not a reflection on the acting as it was excellent and I do admire the actors for playing these parts.I am not usually squemish with any film however this story made me feel, "icky" ,is the only way to describe it. I was conflicted & then confused as to why I should feel this way (perhaps the point of the film). Watch it then have a nice shower afterwards.
Sean D.
says
Really good thriller. Alternative and at times disturbing.
Steve R.
says
Jacqui W.
says
Im sorry as I explained in email sent previously I have been in a car accident and havent been at my residence to watch your dvds so unfortunatley I cant comment!
Lesley L.
says
Neil F.
says
I did exactly the same as Debbie D. funnily enough... After 10 minutes I was pottering around until I decided to put it back in the envelope and head for the mailbox! Maybe it just wasn't for me though.
Debra K.
says
Dianne B.
says
A good movie worth watching
Gene R.
says
interesting twist in the beginning but waste of time
Debbie D.
says
This would have to have been the biggest waste of time. I was that bored with it, I ended up pottering around the house cleaning.
Bergur S.
says
Beessan S.
says
puts you between a rock and a hard place. a tough film to walk away from with a sense of resolution.