Review of Hard Candy (2005) by Alexander C — 07 Dec 2012

''Ah, so you and your mom are both wacked?''.

''I dunno. That's that whole nature versus nurture question, isn't it? Was I born a cute, vindictive, little bitch or... did society make me that way? I go back and forth on that...''.

A mature 14-year old girl meets a charming 32-year old photographer on the Internet. Suspecting that he is a pedophile, she goes to his home in an attempt to expose him. But theres alot more to it than meets the eye...

Patrick Wilson: Jeff Kohlver.

Ellen Page: Hayley Stark.

Psychological and mind blowing, Hard Candy is an intelligent tale of vengeance, a little 14 year old girl with a fearsome intellect.

It's clever that instead of elaborating on it's wicked, sadistic scenes it leaves them to the imagination and thus relies on tension rather than full on gore.

Ellen Page as Hayley plays the part so well, she really makes him suffer in this, in the end he is at her every whim and it's clever how a simple film can be so clever.

Patrick Wilson as Jeff shows how versatile he is after seeing him in Phantom Of The Opera. This role couldn't be more different.

Amusing to watch as she castrates him, hangs him and tortures him, not just physically but mentally too, and how her quest of revenge doesn't seem to be over.

A nice little thriller which will make you think and lingers even after it finishes.