Hard Candy Worth Your Time

It's not everyday that I get to watch a film which engages me for its enitre duration, while showing me that new ground can be tred in the world of cinema. Hard Candy, however is just such a film. The premise is rather simple, and the film is almost entirely built around two actors. Director David Slade brings his music video experience to the forefront, giving the film a sort of techno rhythm, even remixing bits of video while slowly cutting away to dark colors. The film borders on exploitation, yet Slade's ability to keep to grotesque off-camera heightens the general tension of the film. Two brilliant performances - from Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page - leave you constantly changing your sympathies throughout the film. In the film, Jeff and Hayley meet via the internet. Hayley is 14, and Jeff is significantly older, yet he brings her back to his home. This is where the film begins to tweak with your expectations, as Hayley is the one doing the torturing. As the tension builds, deciphering just who is "good" and just who is "bad" becomes a difficult task. In the end, Slade brings us to a conclusion that is fulfilling both in terms of the story, as well as from a theoretical perspective. Certainly not one for everyone's taste, but a brilliant film nonetheless.