NoFace for Film

Title: Hard Candy
Year: 2005
Director: David Slade
Starring Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page
Rated: R
Reviewed by: TheMarina
NoFace for Film rating: 6 out of 7

A good thriller is hard to find but sometimes, that little movie that looks harmless enough surprises you.

Welcome to Hard Candy - a movie about a pedophile and his victim.
Or is it? That’s how it begins but as the story unfolds, we come to realize that not everything is as it seems. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that this Little Red Riding Hood isn’t as innocent and defenseless as she appears to be. The movie starts off strongly with very witty and intelligent dialogue but as it progresses and we pass the half way mark, some of the wit disappears and we are left with little more than contrived banter. Even though the dialogue does lack a fair bit towards the end of the film, the story manages to keep you interested.

Music video turned cinematic director David Slade has a style which translates well onto the big screen. He has a unique personal style, a skill which some directors try to create and fail at miserably, and his method of showing us what’s going on but still leaving you guessing applies well to this type of movie. But fancy camera angles aren’t the real juice of this movie. Even if story itself isn’t enough to get you to see this, the performances are. Patrick Wilson is wonderful as the tortured 30 something with a taste for young girls. His transitions from being in control to defenseless are seamless.

The real star of the movie is Canadian up and comer Ellen Page. Her performance is flawless and with every line of dialogue and every action, you can see her calm rage. If you haven’t heard of this 19 year old yet, don’t to worry. Her talent is obvious and with the release of X-Men this summer (she plays Shadowcat), I have no doubt she’ll be plucked by Hollywood soon enough.

Hard Candy keeps you guessing until the very last scene. With a story this well told, and performances this strong, it’s well worth seeing. I suggest adding it to the rental list.

Technorati Tags: Hard Candy, pedophile, Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page