Hard Candy (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  Ellen Page (Juno) puts on what must be one of the greatest performances ive ever seen. This movie is amazing and after seeing this and Juno I can safely say Ellen Page will be an incredible actress for a long time to come. This creepy tables turned thrill er is top notch from writing… More
  Ellen Page (Juno) puts on what must be one of the greatest performances ive ever seen. This movie is amazing and after seeing this and Juno I can safely say Ellen Page will be an incredible actress for a long time to come. This creepy tables turned thrill er is top notch from writing to directing to acting. The leads sizzle throughout this movie and when it all comes to an end you are left with a stomcach full of rattled nerves. Wonderful, top notch. must see

• Sam B

  
  This movie is disturbing and often fascinating. Ellen Page really holds things together in a great, terrifying early performance. Considering there are basically only two characters in the film (the other played formidably by Patrick Wilson), they do a great job of keeping the… More
  This movie is disturbing and often fascinating. Ellen Page really holds things together in a great, terrifying early performance. Considering there are basically only two characters in the film (the other played formidably by Patrick Wilson), they do a great job of keeping the dialogue tense. However, Hard Candy too often finds itself on the edge of believability; there is a distinct lack of explanation that leads many of the events that occur to seem highly unrealistic. I couldn't buy a lot of the movie, and it also made me cringe quite a lot, two things I can't really forgive the movie for easily. Still, I can't really blame the movie for being uncomfortable given that is the point of it, and Ellen Page is certainly talented enough that any fans of hers who don't mind sitting through some horrifying scenes might want to give this a try.

• Coxxie M

  
  Loved IT!!!!!!!!!!

• Arabella R

  
  A hardcore film showing Ellen Page's early promise. Perhaps unnecessarily gory at parts but a great psychological thriller none the less.

• Jan Marc M

  
  Ellen Page satisfies with a chilling performance in a mission for truth and justice against a suspected pedophile in Hard Candy. A high tension, controversial work that obscures the bounds of morality.

• Sergio G

  
  I found it enterteining enough to keep me watching the whole 1:45hrs. I liked the close-ups again and again and again. Keeps you on the edge of feeling that privacy and claustrophobic atmosphere with an disturbed person...jeez. so good for the camera man, the story and both actors did… More
  I found it enterteining enough to keep me watching the whole 1:45hrs. I liked the close-ups again and again and again. Keeps you on the edge of feeling that privacy and claustrophobic atmosphere with an disturbed person...jeez. so good for the camera man, the story and both actors did a good job. In lack of better options for suspense movies I'll recommend it.

• Manu G

  
  Strangers shouldn't talk to little girls. Very good film! Very wicked I liked it. Great acting by both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, two thumbs up! The story was excellent. I had mixed feeling during the movie thinking of which side to pick on but I just let it go and just… More
  Strangers shouldn't talk to little girls. Very good film! Very wicked I liked it. Great acting by both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, two thumbs up! The story was excellent. I had mixed feeling during the movie thinking of which side to pick on but I just let it go and just watch it developed. Loved the ending. For three weeks, 14-year-old Hayley Stark has been chatting on-line with 'Lensmaster319', a 32-year old fashion photographer, named Jeff. The two agree to meet at a coffee shop called Nighthawks. They hit it off, despite the massive age difference. Hayley appears to flirt with Jeff, and Jeff generally restrains himself, even admitting that he must wait 4-years until he can be with her. But his reservations are apparently not enough to decline when Hayley all but invites herself over to his house. Once at the house, manipulation becomes the name of the game, and the pedophile seems to be on the non-traditional side of it.

• Film C

  
  I quite liked this movie, i like the originality of the script and the storyline. I like the way that at first you instantly know that Patrick WIlsons character is guilty of some sort of child abuse as he's meeting a 14yr old, however then you are introduced to this other side… More
  I quite liked this movie, i like the originality of the script and the storyline. I like the way that at first you instantly know that Patrick WIlsons character is guilty of some sort of child abuse as he's meeting a 14yr old, however then you are introduced to this other side of Ellen Page's character. She is suddenly this revenge seeking vegilate that you get the impression that she's doing it on behalf of a missing friend. Its a great psychological thriller however i like answer to my questions, i like to know backgrounds to characters that im introduced too. You arent given any information onto ellen pages character apart from the fact that she is probably insane maybe due to child abuse herself as you find something about the fact her parents dont seem to be on the scene much, but you arent given any indepth information about her character leaving unanswered questions and your just left with speculation. Other than that i like the originality of the movie, i love the way she manipulates her subjects into doing what she says. Its worth a watch.

• Bethany M

  
  Weird yet nothing but empathy for Ellen Pages character. Both actors/actresses played there part exceptionally.

• Nicki M

  
  Liked this movie slightly less on a re-watch. I never realised the first time how much this girl totally manipulated the whole situation! First time I watched it, I was very sympathetic to her, and really felt she was being preyed on, second time, not so sure! This is an excellent… More
  Liked this movie slightly less on a re-watch. I never realised the first time how much this girl totally manipulated the whole situation! First time I watched it, I was very sympathetic to her, and really felt she was being preyed on, second time, not so sure! This is an excellent role for Ellen Page. She manages to be vulnerable and then scary all within a very short space of time. Where this movie works is that it does make you seriously question who is in the wrong, and it does get to be a pretty grey area by the time "Hayley" has finished! Most of the time it is just Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson in a room, so it is to both their credits that this film does not become boring or drag in pace. The thing most frustrating, especially on the re-watch is that it doesn't answer enough questions for my liking by the end. But maybe that is my own failing for wanting everything spelled out. Maybe Hayley was just psychotic, I guess it doesn't really matter.

• Zach B

  
  When it comes down to first time directors, there is a lot of tension that is built around them: Being this is their first film, the results of how well the film does will decide the outcome of their career. For David Slade, his first film explodes on screen and never releases you. It… More
  When it comes down to first time directors, there is a lot of tension that is built around them: Being this is their first film, the results of how well the film does will decide the outcome of their career. For David Slade, his first film explodes on screen and never releases you. It grabs you, holds you in the tension, and refuses to release you. Now, the script to this film, based on some real events, is beyond tight, well written, and feels real. The story that this film presents does get under your skin, and shockingly enough, you start getting confused as to whom it is that you should be rooting for to survive: The girl that tortures the man, or the pedophile that is being tortured. The acting in this film is beyond great. Mostly for actress Ellen Page as she plays a fourteen year old psychopath Hell bent on torturing this man. Word of advice: NEVER cross her path while she is in this character. The direction of this film is fast paced, straight to the point, and also rather simple. Now, there is relatively no score to this film other then the breathing and whimpering of two of the six characters in this film. Now, sense I brought this up, an interesting point to make is that, for the most part, there are only two actors that we see and the chemistry between them is just, really worked out and why they were not nominated for an Oscar is beyond me. Overall, this is a film that you should watch if you like high suspense, films that raise questions, and films that make you think. RECOMMENDED.

• Shawn E

  
  An intense disturbed thriller with a fantastic performance by Ellen Page.

• Unknown H

  
  I can honestly say that this is one of the most unique role reversal story lines I have ever encountered and one that I feel was long overdue for a representation on the big screen. Tackling not only the issues of child abuse and interent grooming, it also tackles a much broader… More
  I can honestly say that this is one of the most unique role reversal story lines I have ever encountered and one that I feel was long overdue for a representation on the big screen. Tackling not only the issues of child abuse and interent grooming, it also tackles a much broader subject of sexual perversion and murder. Ellen Page, the first major movie I saw her in if I recall, plays the fourteen year old heroin/villain with a wonderful grace that only sometimes gives away her real age. A darkly saddening movie that brings to midn thoughts that most would rather pretend did not exist, Hard Candy forces a bitter pill down everyones throat and more to the point, makes you swallow it!

• familiar s

  
  On the whole, the movie failed to create enough thrills or chills to satisfy me. The movie wasn't as fantastic as Ellen Page's acting performance. She gets a chance to depict several emotions & she grabs that opportunity brilliantly. I don't find 'Hard… More
  On the whole, the movie failed to create enough thrills or chills to satisfy me. The movie wasn't as fantastic as Ellen Page's acting performance. She gets a chance to depict several emotions & she grabs that opportunity brilliantly. I don't find 'Hard Candy' recommendable since it's taste was not good enough.

• Martin S

  
  A really smart movie (if you don't know the story before you see it....boy was that a mistake) The good guy is the badguy...the badguy is the good guy....you don't know who to cheer for...the negative part is that it was maybe a little too simply made. Great work by Ellen… More
  A really smart movie (if you don't know the story before you see it....boy was that a mistake) The good guy is the badguy...the badguy is the good guy....you don't know who to cheer for...the negative part is that it was maybe a little too simply made. Great work by Ellen Page.

• Jim H

  
  The performances by Wilson and Page are just as haunting as the film as a whole. Page isn't even close to Juno in this film; in fact, she's a completely believable bad-ass, able to transition swiftly from an adolescent's attempt at seduction to an unrelenting sadist.… More
  The performances by Wilson and Page are just as haunting as the film as a whole. Page isn't even close to Juno in this film; in fact, she's a completely believable bad-ass, able to transition swiftly from an adolescent's attempt at seduction to an unrelenting sadist. There is a moment in Wilson's performance when I almost felt sorry for him, but it was just an hour ago that he was convincing as a creepy pedophile. The film features two budding stars at the top of their game. I only wish I didn't confuse Wilson with Bradley Cooper. The script is very well written. Throughout most of the film, I was hoping to get to understand Page's character's motivation, but then I realized that the ambiguity was plot-based and intentional. What Hard Candy accomplishes is a personification and presentation of everything our public discourse says about pedophiles and pedophilia. "Prison isn't bad enough for them." Check. "Castrate them." Check. "Kill them." Check. And our ultimate response to Page's character should reflect our response to these discourses.

• Thomas J

  
  Great acting telling a very dark story! Ellen Page shows real talent. I know I would like to be able to accomplish what she does in the movie based on a personal experience, so it was good to live the fantasy with her!!

• Dan S

  
  An extremely taut, grueling, intense, and extremely effective motion picture. Ellen Page is a revelation in this movie, she's even better than she was in "Juno". Patrick Wilson is golden, proving he's one of the better younger actors out there. The story examines… More
  An extremely taut, grueling, intense, and extremely effective motion picture. Ellen Page is a revelation in this movie, she's even better than she was in "Juno". Patrick Wilson is golden, proving he's one of the better younger actors out there. The story examines two different disturbing elements, that being pedophilia and sadism, and the ending will leave you haunted forever. This movie doesn't get enough credit for being truly terrifying, Ellen Page gives a memorable villainous performance that should be watched just because it's so believably sadistic and creepy. With that said, the movie suffers a massive miss-step in its finale. However, it's still a solid, disturbing piece of work that should be seen.

• Randy T

  
  Although the suspense is a little protracted, the performance of Ellen Page makes it worth the price of admission (or rental).

• MisterYoda ?

  
  Wild, compelling, but lacks a clear point and wholly implausible Hard Candy is a graphic and gripping film without being overly visceral or inflammatory... well maybe just a little. It forces the audience to examine the gray area between right and wrong, whether or not pedophiles… More
  Wild, compelling, but lacks a clear point and wholly implausible Hard Candy is a graphic and gripping film without being overly visceral or inflammatory... well maybe just a little. It forces the audience to examine the gray area between right and wrong, whether or not pedophiles can ever truly be "rehabilitated" and what society should do when the justice system becomes ineffective in dealing with sick people who hurt others, especially children. A wild ride... The viewer is constantly tossed back and forth the whole film, wondering who is in the "right..." the pedophile or his antagonist. Torture, graphic language, (implied) gore and heart-felt stories of abuse, love lost and sorrow compel the viewer to wonder who is lying, who is committing the crime, and how either character will make it out of the house alive. It's odd to occasionally side with Jeff the pedophile, but as all sociopaths do, he rationalizes his behavior very well, spins intriguing, almost plausible lies and causes you to wonder how easily a single adult male who legitimately photographs under-age girls for a living could be wrongfully accused of abuse. Hayley's character is brilliant (and brilliantly acted by Ellen Page) and in her own way, another sociopath. It's perhaps the first case I've ever seen on film of "the blind torturing the blind." What I do like about the film: It is beautifully shot, with vivid colors and tastefully-used camera techniques that highlight the tension and ambiguity of the story. The film avoids being overtly graphic, considering the subject matter covered includes pedophilia, child abuse, child porn, torture and murder. The story itself is not new (the hunter becoming the hunted), but it is presented in a new way that forces the audience into uncomfortable places and (hopefully) constructive discourse on a pressing social issue. Ellen Page is amazing. Watch for her in the future... What I don't like about the film: Overall, it asks quite a lot of the audience in the sense of suspending one's disbelief. As mentioned, the Hayley character is brilliant, but I found it nearly impossible that a (supposed) 14 year old girl - savant or not - could have created such a complicated and nefarious plan to bring Jeff to "justice." Also, even though the film goes to strange lengths to show Hayley's extremely fit (muscular and cut) body, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for her to move the unconscious body of a full-grown, 180 pound man, let alone lift him onto a chair or table as she somehow manages to do. Finally, I don't like the sociological stance the film seems to take, that society creates pedophiles. Most of that conjecture comes from learning Jeff's background through his own words (are we supposed to believe a single word from him?) and from info Hayley has gathered on her own, but it creates several disturbing questions: Are pedophiles born or raised? Can being lonely, heartbroken and unable to find love drive a normal human being to depraved, horrific and prurient lows, or were they inherently flawed to begin with? When are people no longer responsible for their actions (when does an illness take over for personal responsibility), and what can ultimately be done to "rehabilitate" repeat child molesters? Mostly, I suppose I find it disturbing to humanize pedophiles as I personally feel they are not human. Overall, I liked the film. It was quick. Hayley's dialogue is biting and acerbic, often drawing an uncomfortable laugh from the audience in the midst of a melee of violence and anger. Jeff is a (nearly) likable villain, though the lines between villain and hero become increasingly blurred the farther we go down the rabbit hole. There are moments of raw anger, vengeance and pity. The characters are well-drawn and acted, and you genuinely feel for both of them at different times. When Hayley takes a blow to the stomach, you feel it. When Jeff struggles to break free from his ropes, you squirm with him. The social commentary that the film *should* create is vital to the future of our nation, especially as more and more repeat child molesters are being caught and hundreds of thousands of their victims silently suffer, or disappear altogether, each year. Unfortunately, Hard Candy is heavy-handed and manipulative. It pulls every cinemagraphic/dramatic trick known to man to force the audience down one track, then another, leaving the viewer to feel disoriented and themselves molested (possibly intentionally?). I nearly expected a never-before-seen cat to jump out of the darkness in one scene just to scare the audience. The story is altogether implausible, no matter how much we would like it to be. You'd like to leave the theater thinking, "Wow, I'm glad the bad guy got what he deserved!" but you know he didn't, as this is America and the legal system is unable to correctly handle sociopathic pedophiles. Still, go see it. It's a wild, phrenetic ride well worth the ticket price. Think about the characters, their actions and motivations and form your own opinions. Then - most importantly - talk about them.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings