“Hard Candy” is a low budget psychological thriller from 2005, and my latest rental from Netflix which has gathered too much dust as I kept procrastinating on watching it. But watch it I finally did, and shame on me for putting it off for so long. These days it feels so rare to find a thriller that touches on such controversial issues like pedophilia or the uncertainty of online dating. I mean, do you have any idea who’s on the other end of the computer screen? Aren’t you afraid to find out? I’m not saying you shouldn’t go through with it, but after watching this movie, you’ll be walking into it with extreme caution (if at all) even if its eHarmony.
We see 14-year old Hayley Stark (Ellen Page) meeting up with 32-year old photographer Jeff Kohlver at a nice modern café. They have been communicating with each other via the internet, but this is the first time they have seen each other in the flesh. After the awkward introduction, they get comfortable enough to where Hayley goes back with Jeff to his house on the hills. In the process of having so much fun though, Jeff passes out and awakens to find himself tied to a chair. Hayley has turned the tables on him and makes her intention very clear; she accuses Jeff of being a sexual predator, and she is aiming to make him pay for the hideous crimes she believes he has committed.
Watching “Hard Candy” reminded me a lot of Ariel Dorfman’s “Death And The Maiden” which later got made into a Roman Polanski film starring Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley. Sigourney ends up interrogating Ben because she believes he was the one who viciously tortured and raped her years before. Problem is she only has his voice to go on as she was blindfolded and never saw who it was. You spend your time wondering if he is innocent or not, and if Sigourney’s character is overreacting.
“Hard Candy” is a lot like that in retrospect because until the very end, you’re not sure what to believe. She seems pretty damn certain of Jeff’s dark nature, but he is very convincing in proving to her and the audience that she has the wrong guy. But if Jeff really is the bad guy, then you wonder who is the sicker of the two. Hayley is more than prepared to turn this guy into a late blooming opera singer with quite a falsetto, and her lack of hesitation in doing so suggests she is not altogether mentally balanced.
When these two first appear onscreen, we know as much about them as they about themselves, so we are put into their mindset of their first meeting, and like them we are trying to figure them out. Can they trust one another? Can we? If so, which one should we trust more? “Hard Candy” teases us with the possibilities of what could go wrong with this date. It’s eerie enough that you have a 30-year old guy hanging out with a girl who’s not even of legal driving age yet, but how vulnerable will she allow herself to be around this guy? Then again, teenagers are not as dumb as we make them out to be.
This is one of those movies that will stay with you long after you have finished watching it, and there are sequences that play more on what you think you see instead of what you actually see. The effect of those moments are truly unsettling to where I almost would compare “Hard Candy” to Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games.” Furthermore, the two main characters are not just two stock characters that could only exist in the movies; they are real people thrown into a situation which we ourselves hope never to get caught in. The questions it raises of justice, conscience, sickness of the mind, and others on top of them will have you delving into long conversations with those you just witnessed the movie with.
Now a 14-year old person taking control of an older man and having a surprisingly strong knowledge of medical procedures sounds totally unbelievable. You’d think that a character like that could only exist on paper, but that just highlights the brilliance of Ellen Page’s performance as Hayley Stark. “Hard Candy” proved to be her big breakthrough in America, and she made this before “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Juno.” She handles all the complexities of her character like a pro, making her seem all the more frighteningly real. If you don’t buy a teenage girl being that clever, you will after watching Page at work. The camera locks right into her gazing eyes which show a determination of action that she can never be easily pulled away from. She’s amazing to watch here.
Patrick Wilson essentially plays the more reactive role, and watching him is painful as it truly looks like he is suffering more than just acting. It’s not surprising to hear that he passed out in one very intense scene, and he gives an excellent performance in a role most actors are not necessarily in a hurry to play. Over the past few years, Patrick has given strong performances in movies like “Little Children” and “Watchmen,” but this easily stands out as some of his best work. You remain suspicious of his character throughout, but darn it, seeing him suffer makes you feel for the guy even if you don’t want to.
“Hard Candy” marked the directorial debut of David Slade who has made music videos for various artists including Stone Temple Pilots and Tori Amos. I liked how he captured the sterile nature of Jeff’s post-modern apartment and of how that is forever changed by the vicious actions of the characters. David also maintains a strong level of suspense and tension throughout the movie which never seems easy to do these days. David has since go on to direct “30 Days Of Night” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” but I’m guessing neither have the power this one film has.
Made for around $1 million, “Hard Candy” is a very effective thriller for those willing to plumb its dark psychological depths. The power of suggestion of certain scenes will be more than enough to drive those lacking a strong stomach out of the room, but if you like this kind of movie, it no doubt delivers. It’s also hell of an acting showcase for Patrick and Ellen, but even more so for Ellen who has since gone on to a great acting career. The movie leaves its mark on your consciousness and will stay with you long after the credits are done. There’s only so many movies I can say that about these days.
***½ out of ****
