Hard Candy, directed by David Slade and written by Brian Nelson stars Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page, is a disturbing, empowering and emotional look at pedophilia and the lengths people will take to expose a pedophile.
Wilson's character, Jeff Kohlver, begins an internet relationship with a fourteen year old girl, Hayley Stark. When Jeff meets Hayley, played by Ellen Page, in person for the first time he sets off to seduce her by making her feel special and safe. Hayley agrees to go back to his house to listen to some music.
Just when you think this film is going to show us the seedy mind of a pedophile it changes to show us the seedy mind of a fourteen year old girl trying to expose a child rapist. After drugging him and humiliating him, she proceeds to do a myriad of things to convince him that this encounter is going to make him pay for the rest of his life for what he had done in the past. Hayley may well be a sociopath but you don't hate her. By the time you get to the end you are expecting it but it is still shocking and unexpected.
Patrick Wilson's portrayal of the way a child molester gains the trust of and seduces a child was disturbing. Jeff's hands off approach only encouraged Hayley's flirtation and advances. All of his remarks could be taken as sexual or asexual. Even though, in the beginning, everyone watching can tell he is attracted to her and her to him, the way he seduces her is so subtle and complex it would be hard for a child to understand the advances as anything more than innocent. In the scenes where he is being tortured, and humiliated, Jeff is terrified, angry, scared, and spews attrition.
Wilson's performance is nothing short of incredible. This film goes from beginning to end with a range of affect that even the most experienced actors would find challenging. Jeff is horny, lonely, seductive, silly, sultry, angry, fearful, despondent, elated, and never shameful. He acts with his entire being. At times during the torture you actually empathize with him, in spite of who he is because Wilson helps you feel his physical pain and dismay during his torment. Wilson's performance is worth seeing this movie alone.
Ellen Page's performance is frightening and exciting. Page swings in and out of emotions quickly but naturally. When the film starts Hayley is sweet, insecure and open to Jeff's seduction. There is a point in the movie where you learn that both Jeff and you have been played by Hayley. She isn't sweet and innocent. She is scary, vengeful and admirable. Hayley Stark is the person we all wish we could be and are scared to become.
A role like Hayley is hard to pull off well. Left to a lesser actress this role would have blown into a contrived fantasy. Page instead completely controls her composure to release only what the scene demanded; a marvelment of precise projection. Given the right role in the right film, I wouldn't be surprised if her name became one everyone knew.
There is a cameo appearance from Sandra Oh as the nosey neighbor. I think it was a waste of such a great actress to give her such a strange and awkward role.
Actors can only be as good as the material they act from and writer Brian Nelson's script is nothing short of engaging. He was able to make a thriller/drama about a child molester make you angry and fearful instead of sad, which is hard to do when dealing with such a disturbing topic. He also makes the characters full and completely dimensional. It is a major achievement to make a child molester's character so in depth.
The writing and acting aren't the only achievements in the film. The cinematography is first class. Jo Willems understands how to use light, framing, angles, color and grit to give the right mood to the right scene. David Slade, Art Director Felicity Nove, Costume Designer Jennifer Johnson and Set Decorator Kathryn Holliday created sets completely devoid of unnecessary clutter or eye distraction. Everything that can be made of a solid color is completely one solid color. The walls are purple, the couch is black, shirts are solid colors, etc. This creates a simple world in which the complex story plays out. It also lets you know exactly what you should be looking at because they aren't simple and they really stand out.
I was impressed with this film from start to finish. You will be too.
PS. This question is a spoiler. Please don't read it if you haven't seen the movie. Please see the movie!
At the end, is the person still on the roof a sociopath? If you believe a sociopath knows what they are doing is wrong and does it anyways, does this person fit? Or do you think what they did wasn't wrong?
Wilson's character, Jeff Kohlver, begins an internet relationship with a fourteen year old girl, Hayley Stark. When Jeff meets Hayley, played by Ellen Page, in person for the first time he sets off to seduce her by making her feel special and safe. Hayley agrees to go back to his house to listen to some music.
Just when you think this film is going to show us the seedy mind of a pedophile it changes to show us the seedy mind of a fourteen year old girl trying to expose a child rapist. After drugging him and humiliating him, she proceeds to do a myriad of things to convince him that this encounter is going to make him pay for the rest of his life for what he had done in the past. Hayley may well be a sociopath but you don't hate her. By the time you get to the end you are expecting it but it is still shocking and unexpected.
Patrick Wilson's portrayal of the way a child molester gains the trust of and seduces a child was disturbing. Jeff's hands off approach only encouraged Hayley's flirtation and advances. All of his remarks could be taken as sexual or asexual. Even though, in the beginning, everyone watching can tell he is attracted to her and her to him, the way he seduces her is so subtle and complex it would be hard for a child to understand the advances as anything more than innocent. In the scenes where he is being tortured, and humiliated, Jeff is terrified, angry, scared, and spews attrition.
Wilson's performance is nothing short of incredible. This film goes from beginning to end with a range of affect that even the most experienced actors would find challenging. Jeff is horny, lonely, seductive, silly, sultry, angry, fearful, despondent, elated, and never shameful. He acts with his entire being. At times during the torture you actually empathize with him, in spite of who he is because Wilson helps you feel his physical pain and dismay during his torment. Wilson's performance is worth seeing this movie alone.
Ellen Page's performance is frightening and exciting. Page swings in and out of emotions quickly but naturally. When the film starts Hayley is sweet, insecure and open to Jeff's seduction. There is a point in the movie where you learn that both Jeff and you have been played by Hayley. She isn't sweet and innocent. She is scary, vengeful and admirable. Hayley Stark is the person we all wish we could be and are scared to become.
A role like Hayley is hard to pull off well. Left to a lesser actress this role would have blown into a contrived fantasy. Page instead completely controls her composure to release only what the scene demanded; a marvelment of precise projection. Given the right role in the right film, I wouldn't be surprised if her name became one everyone knew.
There is a cameo appearance from Sandra Oh as the nosey neighbor. I think it was a waste of such a great actress to give her such a strange and awkward role.
Actors can only be as good as the material they act from and writer Brian Nelson's script is nothing short of engaging. He was able to make a thriller/drama about a child molester make you angry and fearful instead of sad, which is hard to do when dealing with such a disturbing topic. He also makes the characters full and completely dimensional. It is a major achievement to make a child molester's character so in depth.
The writing and acting aren't the only achievements in the film. The cinematography is first class. Jo Willems understands how to use light, framing, angles, color and grit to give the right mood to the right scene. David Slade, Art Director Felicity Nove, Costume Designer Jennifer Johnson and Set Decorator Kathryn Holliday created sets completely devoid of unnecessary clutter or eye distraction. Everything that can be made of a solid color is completely one solid color. The walls are purple, the couch is black, shirts are solid colors, etc. This creates a simple world in which the complex story plays out. It also lets you know exactly what you should be looking at because they aren't simple and they really stand out.
I was impressed with this film from start to finish. You will be too.
PS. This question is a spoiler. Please don't read it if you haven't seen the movie. Please see the movie!
At the end, is the person still on the roof a sociopath? If you believe a sociopath knows what they are doing is wrong and does it anyways, does this person fit? Or do you think what they did wasn't wrong?