Hard Candy DVD Review

"Hard Candy" reviews

DVD

Hard Candy

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-10-27 15:00:51

Provider

DVD Review

Hard Candy is to internet dating what Jaws was to the US east coast tourist industry.

Starting in a coffee shop, 30-something photographer, Jeff (Patrick Wilson), meets the young and confident Hayley (Ellen Page) and as the conversation develops, it becomes clear to both that the two have been cyber-flirting for a little while and, more importantly, Hayley is just 14. But she is not the innocent victim in this, creepy as Jeff may be, and before long she has him strapped to a chair and is slipping on the surgical gloves while preparing to unleash all manner of horrors on the would-be paedo.

Hard Candy never quite tips over into straight horror, but rather ploughs the psychological path, as it debates the question of whether Jeff's evil intentions are worse than Hayley's, and whether the girl is an avenging angel and feminist hero - or simply a psycho with a cause. 'Was I born a vindictive little bitch or has society made me this way?" she says with a shrug. ''I go back and forth on that myself."

The gamine Page is magnificent, the best thing about a movie that ultimately ducks the serious questions it poses.

Special features comprise audio commentaries from director David Slade, writer Brian Nelson and actress Ellen Page, deleted and selected scenes plus Controversial Confection featurette and Creating Hard Candy documentary.