Not a good place to just hang out.
Hard Candy is a film in three acts.
- The first is disturbing and deals with a situation that frankly grosses me the fuck out.
- The second act of the film actually grows darker (and has a long scene that gets my stomach churning just thinking about it).
- The final act brings with it still more twists and turns before a depressing ending.
So what are you waiting for film lovers? Get out and watch it!
Strangely enough for a movie with such a dark tone and featuring some pretty graphic dialogue and events there is much to recommend in Hard Candy, call it an exceptional film that is equally exceptionally hard to enjoy.
I’ll keep my summation of the plot events to the first act, but rest assured the tables are turned many times after that, and regardless of where you think the film is headed there is a fair chance you are way off the mark.
When the two main characters in the story first meet (in person) in a coffee shop they only know each other by their chat room handles. “Lensman319” is 32 and at first glance appears a balanced upstanding citizen, until you realise that this quasi-date is with “thongrrrl”, who is a 14 year old boyish in appearance girl.
Lensman319 is actually Jeff (Patrick Wilson) and thongrrrl is Hayley (Ellen Page). The pair met online and agreed to a public meeting, which after a few minutes chat Jeff convinces Hayley that they should head back to his place with the promise of MP3s.
In the car park Hayley is impressed with Jeff’s small car. She thinks it’s cute…
Back at Jeff’s large, trendy pad, replete with photography studio and decked out with multiple photos of young female models, and Hayley is obviously impressed and inquisitive.
Hayley is boyish, whip-smart and talkative, but you get the feeling that she is perhaps trying a little too hard to be impressive, on top of that the opening sequence has already convinced the viewer that things might not go according to plan for someone here… How right we are.
Jeff on the other hand is actually pretty cool and says a bunch of non-predator things… but I mentioned the photos on the walls of young girls right? And the impressive and trendy home is quite isolated and out of the way… omens that don’t bode well.
After some drinks, some frank discussion expressing mutual admiration and some seemingly good natured teasing the tone of the film – which was hardly playful before – changes dramatically and the pace and intensity quickens.
I’ll leave the descriptions there. I can say that the tone of the film changes, vibrant colours are replaced by washed out pale shades and dim lighting.
The tone of the dialogue becomes far more frank and uncomfortable, with both parties exchanging and disclosing uncomfortable truths. It turns out that both parties had plans not mentioned prior to the coffee shop meeting, though none of them go exactly as planned.
The film takes place in only two locations, the coffee shop and Jeff’s home, though the action moves to almost every room in his house over the duration, this confined space creates only more tension. Coupled with the fact that there is no background music and that for 99% of the film only 2 characters onscreen and we are left to wriggle uncomfortably almost in real time as everything is spelt out and unravels.
Again this is spoiler free but one scene in particular ratchets up the “icky-factor” to truly squirm-worthy levels, I distinctly recall the sinking feel in my gut as it played out – keep in mind also that I have seen the film a couple times before and knew the outcome already…
In the interest of not giving more away I will leave it there, as hard as it is to recommend Hard Candy on an enjoyment level I suggest that those mature enough to differentiate cinema from real life will find much to admire, it is uncomfortable, but it is also unpredictable and riveting, and you’ll go a long way before you see better performances from two lead actors. Big ups especially to Ellen Page in her debut, I saw this before Juno and Inception, and was left with zero doubt that she was destined for big things before the credits even rolled.
Hard Candy – 8 / 10. Just because this Candy might be difficult to enjoy doesn’t mean that it isn’t any good. Brutal and unflinching – yet nevertheless quality – filmmaking and brilliant performances make Hard Candy a painfully rewarding couple of hours.
