Hard Candy (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424136/
Director: David Slade / Script: Brian Nelson
Runtime: 104min
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Tagline: Strangers shouldn’t talk to little girls.


Do you want to get impressed? This movie surely does all it can to sweep you off your feet and send chills down your spine. It is David Slade's first feature film. Here’s the story: Hayley, a 14-year-old chats on the Internet with Jeff, a 32-year-old charming photographer. They meet despite the big age difference, and since Hayley suspects he’s a pedophile, she attempts to expose him.

The plot of the film is quite simplified, the cast is not numerous at all; the accent is put on the dialogue, which clearly is the basis of the movie. And it isn’t boring at all! The conversations are sharp, daring, interesting, and sarcastic. The script is very well written. Hayley’s attitude changes drastically; and the stuff that happen in Jeff’s apartment are absolutely shocking. The idea is very original and the execution of it is perfect; I have never seen any movies, not even similar to this masterpiece. Some ideas are very bold, and I appreciate every daring approach on the big screen. Even the title draws attention.

It was Ellen Page’s first movie that I saw; initially, I didn’t like her for personal reasons (it reminded me of someone) and for her role in this movie, but after watching more of her movies, I had to admit that she is just amazing. Patrick Wilson is attractive, and I have absolutely no complaints about his acting skills. He was very convincing in this movie too; in fact it made me not care whether Jeff was a pedophile or not. I felt pity for him and I was totally angry with Hayley. The movie at times was like a cat and mouse chase; only that this time the mouse gets to manipulate the cat. Adjectives best describing the movie are: tense, thrilling, shocking, and intense. It maintains interest right until the end. There is no music, if I had noticed it right, but that actually, besides being a bit strange, is quite perfect: there is no need for intensifiers. Without music it feels so real; the dialogue is in the focus of the spectators’ attention. And the setting, that apartment is like…wow! The filming technique and the editing couldn’t have been better; I liked how many times the actors’ face expressions are in the focus of the camera. The close-ups make it all seem so personal. The whole movie took only 18 days to film. Ellen Page’s performances in the movie are admirable; she’s quite young and still, can cope with many famous actresses.

All in all, I’m impressed. Awesome job! “Nothing is yours when you invite a teenager into your home.” The movie lives up to its title: it is a hard candy; it seems all sweet in the beginning, but becomes quite tough. But this is only my interpretation, because originally the title comes from Internet slang for an under-aged girl ;)