Hard Candy is a graphic and gripping film without being overly visceral or inflammatory... well maybe just a little. It forces the audience to examine the gray area between right and wrong, whether or not pedophiles can ever truly be "rehabilitated" and what society should do when the justice system becomes ineffective in dealing with sick people who hurt others, especially children.
A wild ride...
The viewer is constantly tossed back and forth the whole film, wondering who is in the "right..." the pedophile or his antagonist. Torture, graphic language, (implied) gore and heart-felt stories of abuse, love lost and sorrow compel the viewer to wonder who is lying, who is committing the crime, and how either character will make it out of the house alive. It's odd to occasionally side with Jeff the pedophile, but as all sociopaths do, he rationalizes his behavior very well, spins intriguing, almost plausible lies and causes you to wonder how easily a single adult male who legitimately photographs under-age girls for a living could be wrongfully accused of abuse. Hayley's character is brilliant (and brilliantly acted by Ellen Page) and in her own way, another sociopath. It's perhaps the first case I've ever seen on film of "the blind torturing the blind."
What I do like about the film: It is beautifully shot, with vivid colors and tastefully-used camera techniques that highlight the tension and ambiguity of the story. The film avoids being overtly graphic, considering the subject matter covered includes pedophilia, child abuse, child porn, torture and murder. The story itself is not new (the hunter becoming the hunted), but it is presented in a new way that forces the audience into uncomfortable places and (hopefully) constructive discourse on a pressing social issue. Ellen Page is amazing. Watch for her in the future...
What I don't like about the film: Overall, it asks quite a lot of the audience in the sense of suspending one's disbelief. As mentioned, the Hayley character is brilliant, but I found it nearly impossible that a (supposed) 14 year old girl - savant or not - could have created such a complicated and nefarious plan to bring Jeff to "justice." Also, even though the film goes to strange lengths to show Hayley's extremely fit (muscular and cut) body, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for her to move the unconscious body of a full-grown, 180 pound man, let alone lift him onto a chair or table as she somehow manages to do. Finally, I don't like the sociological stance the film seems to take, that society creates pedophiles. Most of that conjecture comes from learning Jeff's background through his own words (are we supposed to believe a single word from him?) and from info Hayley has gathered on her own, but it creates several disturbing questions: Are pedophiles born or raised? Can being lonely, heartbroken and unable to find love drive a normal human being to depraved, horrific and prurient lows, or were they inherently flawed to begin with? When are people no longer responsible for their actions (when does an illness take over for personal responsibility), and what can ultimately be done to "rehabilitate" repeat child molesters? Mostly, I suppose I find it disturbing to humanize pedophiles as I personally feel they are not human.
Overall, I liked the film. It was quick. Hayley's dialogue is biting and acerbic, often drawing an uncomfortable laugh from the audience in the midst of a melee of violence and anger. Jeff is a (nearly) likable villain, though the lines between villain and hero become increasingly blurred the farther we go down the rabbit hole. There are moments of raw anger, vengeance and pity. The characters are well-drawn and acted, and you genuinely feel for both of them at different times. When Hayley takes a blow to the stomach, you feel it. When Jeff struggles to break free from his ropes, you squirm with him. The social commentary that the film *should* create is vital to the future of our nation, especially as more and more repeat child molesters are being caught and hundreds of thousands of their victims silently suffer, or disappear altogether, each year.
Unfortunately, Hard Candy is heavy-handed and manipulative. It pulls every cinemagraphic/dramatic trick known to man to force the audience down one track, then another, leaving the viewer to feel disoriented and themselves molested (possibly intentionally?). I nearly expected a never-before-seen cat to jump out of the darkness in one scene just to scare the audience. The story is altogether implausible, no matter how much we would like it to be. You'd like to leave the theater thinking, "Wow, I'm glad the bad guy got what he deserved!" but you know he didn't, as this is America and the legal system is unable to correctly handle sociopathic pedophiles. Still, go see it. It's a wild, phrenetic ride well worth the ticket price. Think about the characters, their actions and motivations and form your own opinions. Then - most importantly - talk about them.
A wild ride...
The viewer is constantly tossed back and forth the whole film, wondering who is in the "right..." the pedophile or his antagonist. Torture, graphic language, (implied) gore and heart-felt stories of abuse, love lost and sorrow compel the viewer to wonder who is lying, who is committing the crime, and how either character will make it out of the house alive. It's odd to occasionally side with Jeff the pedophile, but as all sociopaths do, he rationalizes his behavior very well, spins intriguing, almost plausible lies and causes you to wonder how easily a single adult male who legitimately photographs under-age girls for a living could be wrongfully accused of abuse. Hayley's character is brilliant (and brilliantly acted by Ellen Page) and in her own way, another sociopath. It's perhaps the first case I've ever seen on film of "the blind torturing the blind."
What I do like about the film: It is beautifully shot, with vivid colors and tastefully-used camera techniques that highlight the tension and ambiguity of the story. The film avoids being overtly graphic, considering the subject matter covered includes pedophilia, child abuse, child porn, torture and murder. The story itself is not new (the hunter becoming the hunted), but it is presented in a new way that forces the audience into uncomfortable places and (hopefully) constructive discourse on a pressing social issue. Ellen Page is amazing. Watch for her in the future...
What I don't like about the film: Overall, it asks quite a lot of the audience in the sense of suspending one's disbelief. As mentioned, the Hayley character is brilliant, but I found it nearly impossible that a (supposed) 14 year old girl - savant or not - could have created such a complicated and nefarious plan to bring Jeff to "justice." Also, even though the film goes to strange lengths to show Hayley's extremely fit (muscular and cut) body, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for her to move the unconscious body of a full-grown, 180 pound man, let alone lift him onto a chair or table as she somehow manages to do. Finally, I don't like the sociological stance the film seems to take, that society creates pedophiles. Most of that conjecture comes from learning Jeff's background through his own words (are we supposed to believe a single word from him?) and from info Hayley has gathered on her own, but it creates several disturbing questions: Are pedophiles born or raised? Can being lonely, heartbroken and unable to find love drive a normal human being to depraved, horrific and prurient lows, or were they inherently flawed to begin with? When are people no longer responsible for their actions (when does an illness take over for personal responsibility), and what can ultimately be done to "rehabilitate" repeat child molesters? Mostly, I suppose I find it disturbing to humanize pedophiles as I personally feel they are not human.
Overall, I liked the film. It was quick. Hayley's dialogue is biting and acerbic, often drawing an uncomfortable laugh from the audience in the midst of a melee of violence and anger. Jeff is a (nearly) likable villain, though the lines between villain and hero become increasingly blurred the farther we go down the rabbit hole. There are moments of raw anger, vengeance and pity. The characters are well-drawn and acted, and you genuinely feel for both of them at different times. When Hayley takes a blow to the stomach, you feel it. When Jeff struggles to break free from his ropes, you squirm with him. The social commentary that the film *should* create is vital to the future of our nation, especially as more and more repeat child molesters are being caught and hundreds of thousands of their victims silently suffer, or disappear altogether, each year.
Unfortunately, Hard Candy is heavy-handed and manipulative. It pulls every cinemagraphic/dramatic trick known to man to force the audience down one track, then another, leaving the viewer to feel disoriented and themselves molested (possibly intentionally?). I nearly expected a never-before-seen cat to jump out of the darkness in one scene just to scare the audience. The story is altogether implausible, no matter how much we would like it to be. You'd like to leave the theater thinking, "Wow, I'm glad the bad guy got what he deserved!" but you know he didn't, as this is America and the legal system is unable to correctly handle sociopathic pedophiles. Still, go see it. It's a wild, phrenetic ride well worth the ticket price. Think about the characters, their actions and motivations and form your own opinions. Then - most importantly - talk about them.