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Hard Candy (film)

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Hard Candy
movie poster featuring Ellen Page as bait in an oversized bear trap.
Directed byDavid Slade
Written byBrian Nelson
Produced byPaul G. Allen
Rosanne Korenberg
StarringEllen Page
Patrick Wilson
Sandra Oh
CinematographyJo Willems
Edited byArt Jones
Music byMolly Nyman
Harry Escott
Distributed byLions Gate Entertainment
Release dates
April 14, 2006 (USA)
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,000,000 (est.)

Hard Candy is a 2005 film about Hayley Stark (Ellen Page), a 14-year-old girl who meets Jeff (Patrick Wilson), a 32-year-old photographer who might be a sexual predator. The two first get to know each other on the Internet before meeting in person at a local coffee shop, which results in a trip to Jeff's home; however, Jeff soon learns that Hayley is not as innocent as she appears. The title "Hard Candy" comes from the internet slang for an under-aged girl. [1]

It is British director David Slade's first feature film, having previously worked mostly with music videos.

The film has been linked, and sometimes compared to 1996's Freeway starring Reese Witherspoon.

Plot

The film opens with an online conversation displayed on a computer screen, between two people. The two agree to meet in person at a local coffee shop. Hayley Stark, a 14-year-old girl (Ellen Page, 17 years old at the time of release at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005) and Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson), a 32-year-old photographer, engage in innocent conversation about literature, music and food.

At one point Hayley says seemingly jokingly that 4 out of 5 doctors think that she is insane. After discussing the band Goldfrapp, Jeff says that he has a bootleg MP3 copy of their latest concert. She suggests that she go back to his house so that she can listen to the recording.

File:Jeff in pain.jpg
the infamous torture scene.

At Jeff's home, Hayley listens to the recording while Jeff pours two glasses of water in the kitchen. Jeff goes to hand her a glass, but Hayley declines stating that she was taught to never drink something she hasn't poured herself. Jeff offers to pour it again, but Hayley jumps at the chance for something more exciting and makes them both screwdrivers.

As they drink, Hayley suggests that Jeff take some photographs of her, similar to the ones he has displayed on the walls of his home. When Jeff returns with his camera he feels dizzy and disoriented. Hayley, meanwhile, jumps onto his couch and lets Jeff take some photos. He soon passes out. When he wakes up he is in a chair restrained with a rope.

Hayley begins to search the house. While in Jeff's bedroom, she finds a gun, but tosses it on the bed. Jeff then manages to wheel to his bedroom and get the gun but when he rushes back into the living room, Hayley wraps his head in plastic wrap.

When Jeff wakes up, he is now tied to a table. He is not wearing pants, and has a bag of ice on his genitals. Hayley psychologically tortures Jeff by telling him she is going to castrate him. After, she kindly advises Jeff on dealing with his situation, helpfully telling him of a website for eunuchs, offering support. At this point, Jeff believes that he has been castrated by Hayley but finds out she didn't do anything.

Later Jeff finds himself standing on a chair with a noose around his neck. Hayley tells him that she has written his suicide note and that Janelle (his ex-girlfriend) is already on the way. She tells Jeff that he should simply kill himself before he is revealed as a pedophile. Jeff breaks free from the noose and pursues Hayley following her onto the roof, where she has created another noose. He threatens to kill her, but she holds him off with the gun.

After more conversing and threats by Hayley, Jeff decides to kill himself. Hayley places the noose around his neck, and as he is preparing to jump from the roof and hang himself, he looks back at her as if for reassurance.

File:Ending.jpg
The climactic ending.

The movie ends with Hayley, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt (rather like Little Red Riding Hood, having dispensed with the wolf), cutting through a wooded area to meet with her friend.

Cast

Reception

  • Page in particular has been highlighted for "remain[ing] consistently convincing" to her role which is both "powerful and chilling." USA Today outlines the character of Hayley Stark as "an avenging angel with a twist ... a privileged, intelligent teen who is naive in some ways but extremely savvy and mature in others."[2]
  • Ellen Page won Best Actress from the Austin Film Critics Association, the only best actress award of the award season (2006-2007) not won by Helen Mirren.
  • Hard Candy inspired SURF SAFE, WEAR RED, a website dedicated to increasing awareness in internet violence. Visitors to the site can purchase a red hoodie similar to the one Hayley wears in the film.

References

  1. ^ "Urban Dictionary: Hard Candy entry". Retrieved 2006-10-16.
  2. ^ Ellen: Manipulates 'Hard Candy' to great effect by Claudia Puig, USA Today, December 22, 2006 section E2
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