As a male, this is the most terrifying film I have ever seen.
It's a clearly low budget affair, but does a brilliant job of reversing roles so to speak. Putting a human face on evil and condemning vigilantes, basically it makes you question who is right and who is wrong? Clearly they're both both.
It's disturbing and extremely unpleasant, but purely for the castration scene. I doubt it has even half the impact it had on me, on a woman.
Ultimately entertaining, makes you think, not a masterpiece but a cut above average.
Personal enjoyment: 6/10
Actual quality as a film: 7/10
So some kudos for the film but I feel it is important in its mood, story, feel and performances. So the unsavory and revolting topic of pedophilla addressed in this film and granted I do not watch films about that or I try not to but I had been wanting to watch this for a long time. The poster is amazing keep you wondering about the film and of course it was checked out everytime I went to rent it.
Story is simple lil girl meets 30ish man online and meets him and they have a creepy chemistry in a disturbing way. The camera angles add to the ick factor by extreme closeups as if we are looking at them from the charctors pov. And the film is not what you think, it becomes a weird trip. Where sympathy is misplaced but no one is really "innocent". The film has a spectrum of wrong doings, like is this worse or is that? The film poses questions and you feel like shit because you sympathized with a pedaphile. The shittiness continues because you feel anger or repulsion at the 14 year old because of the disbelief of the acts she is commiting but would you still feel the same if she was older?
Page is the anti-Juno in this she is calculating sadist with revenge on her mind. Wilson is great in this also although I have only seen Little Children which he is fantastic in.
I would not say I liked the film but it is rather disturbing for something you can get at your run of the mill video store.
Page is now one of my favourite actresses!! After seein her in "Juno", I thought she was good. But now, that girl is AMAZIN!!
This is definately a movie I think everyone should see. It draws you in from the first chat scene, and it keeps you thinkin long after the credits have rolled.
It is masterly put together with brilliant dialogues, no obvious good or bad side, and you can really feel the desperation the characters portray. And I love that you can never guess what's next to come...
You do NOT want to miss out on this one!! Trust me!!
A seriously weird movie after it finished I could not actually think of how to take it, it was not what I expected. It was addictive, I could not wait until the end as you never knew who was the one in the wrong. Ellen Page was brilliant, every film she is in is amazing, her acting does not come around everyday.
Ellen Page is a wonderful young actress.
Her character is very intelligent and strong willed. She set her mind to something and nothing was going to stop her. I couldnt believe she talked Geoff (Patrick Wilson) into commitng suicide at the end. No one wants to mess with this teenager!!
With a cast of...five...Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page are left alone to carry the weight of this movie which is decent at times, but ultimately just barely crosses the line of being watchable. Wilson was excellent as a photographer with his life literally in the hands of a supposed 14-year old girl who tortures him into a confession. Page is worthwhile in control, but lets the role take her over and the whole thing falls into Not At All Believable territory pretty quickly. Not bad, but very little value when it comes to watching it over again.
it was nothing like suepr amazingly special about it. i love ellen page and that was the main reason why i wanted to see it. and she was amazing as usual in it. it was kind of twisted and i like the way it was shot but it was just ok so it evens out ot an i like it but thats as far as it gets. ellen page is great.
One of my favourite films of 2006. I felt genuine discomfort watching a couple of scenes. Ellen Page was a tour-de-force. It was reassuring to know I'm not the only one who remembers the crimes of Roman Polanski.
Aided by top notch performances by Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy is a strong and timely psychological drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
mm WOW. hahah this was really intense. i was so inspired by it, but it took like a day or two for me to get over it and actually let the whole thing set in. after about a week of shock i wrote a 2,000 word review, it left me so.. idk, it just made me think hahah. castration!
Brutally disturbing but couldn't look away. Ellen Page is a force to be reckoned with even in her still moments. I look forward to seeing where her career takes her.
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
I found it nearly impossible that a (supposed) 14 year old girl could have created such a complicated and well thought out plan to bring Jeff to "justice." This was a predictable script with many impossibilities and plot holes, it is hard to suspend disbelief for very long, and a leading lady that looks like a boy all add up to a miss. The only surprise in the film for me was that she didn't reveal herself to be a boy after all this.
The director of this film REALLY has a vendetta against pedophiles,not that most don't.Trying not to give too much of the plot away,Patrick Wilson is a photographer who meets a 14 year old girl online and bring her to his pad.She gets frisky on him and convinces him to shoot some pictures of her,and at that point something goes horribly wrong for him.I won't say what,but watch the film to find out...
MCT:July 23, 2008
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MCT:June 27, 2008
