Thursday, September 27, 2012

A Review of "Hard Candy"


Confessions of a Film Junkie: A Review of “Hard Candy”
By: Brian Cotnoir

     “Hard Candy” is a fantastic psychological-thriller that stars Academy Award nominee Ellen Page who plays Haley, a 14-year-old girl who begins an on-line relationship with a 32-year-old photographer named Jeff.  After conversing and flirting with one another on-line, Haley makes the suggestion that they should finally meet.  Jeff is more than happy to meet the young and alluring Haley.  Haley appears to be naïve, which Jeff tries to exploit.  Haley eventually convinces Jeff to invite her over to his place so they can listen to music and maybe take some photographs.  Jeff makes screwdrivers for him and Haley and together the two begin drinking.  After a while Jeff starts to feel ill and blacks out; when he wakes up he’s tied up and the once sweet and innocent appearing Haley begins an intense interrogation.  Haley tells Jeff that she believes he is a pedophile, that he has child porn hidden in the house, and that he had something to do with the dissaperance of a local girl named Donna Mauer.  Jeff denies any wrong doing and tries to convince Haley that shes making a mistake and that he is actually a nice guy.  What follows next is a journey of torture (both physical and psychological) and self-gratification.         

    This film is fantastic; its scary, mysterious, and absolutley mind bending.  This was the first film to be directed by director David Slade and he easily hit a homerun his first time whe he directed “Hard Candy”.  Then there’s the great acting from the films two stars; Patrick Wilson’s portrayal of the photographer, Jeff is eerie and enjoyable.  Wilson is definetley one of the most underrated actors of today in my opinion.  Ellen Page is also fantastic in this film; she went from appearing as a naïve, fun loving, young girl to a violent and sedistic psycopath throughout the course of this film and I can easily say that after watching this film I would not ever want to be on Ellen Page’s bad side.  Page gained internation noteriety after appearing in the hit cult film “Juno”, but I have to say that if you watch “Hard Candy”, you’ll never be able to watch “Juno” without having the same plesant thoughts you once had, ever again.  
                                


No comments:

Post a Comment