It was solely because I think Ellen Page is such a great young actress (Juno in 2007), that I picked up the movie Hard Candy at the local DVD rental place a few days ago. I hadn't remembered reading anything about this film when it debuted in 2006. (Don't read the spoiler reviews on line or it will ruin the film's effects.) Apparently it fared better in Europe than the US.
This was a film my husband and I were still talking about days later. It was very raw and disturbing and yet so well-acted and with enough twists, turns, and dark humor to keep one riveted to the storyline.
The entire premise is about the deceit of seduction. A 14 year old girl (Ellen Page) meets a 32 year old man (Patrick Wilson) in an Internet chat site and agree to meet. Two sweetly innocent-looking characters are looking for something perhaps more than friendship. The rest of the film deals with the seduction and resulting consequences. Most of the scariest moments are done through imagination and off camera sounds but there is some visual violence.
The two actors basically carry the entire film with only very minor appearances of three other characters. Throughout the movie, layers of each character are slowly unveiled and by the end there are two different characters than those you thought you knew at the beginning of the film.
Based upon the previews that were included in the DVD, it led me to believe that the marketing people were trying to sell this film to a teenage horror/thriller audience. That is a mistake. This is an adult film about an adult topic with adult consequences. It is gripping, nauseating, and complicated. It will have you talking.
6 comments:
Thanks for the tip. I really liked Ellen Page in Juno. So, I guess the moral of the story is don't meet people in person that you've met on the internet. Who knows what weirdo's you'll run into.
Thus speaks the voice of experience.
I agree wholeheartedly with your review. It's a great film, but definitely for adults ready to be thinking and talking about it for days.
Jason: You not only know your foood, you know movies too!
Spot on with your review Catch her - 'off camera sounds' the scene you refer to- i'm still, days later finding it uncomfortable. Ellen Page is an impressive young actor.. she has a touch of the old school Hollywood glamour wouldn't you say?..classy dame, and sometimes I really see Sigourney Weaver in her which can't be a bad thing.Patrick Wilson rocks too! Great flick, great review..consider yourself bookmarked. Greetings from London, Jonny Rocca
jonny: Thanks for the bookmark. It seems I've been attracting British boys lately. You fellas must be bored.
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