Hard Candy (DVD, 2006)

Without spoiling the movie, the plot, and the ending, Hard Candy is a film that is definitely worth checking out that is both entertaining and thought provoking. Hard Candy is really two films. The first 20 or 30 minutes is a thought provoking look at online predators and their habits towards underage children. This controversial, and often taboo, topic is shown in practice. The profiling and execution of Patrick Wilson as online child predator Jeff Kohlver is eerily done, and brings to light the habits of these individuals. His target, Ellen Page as Hayley Stark, is 14 year-old girl who agrees to meet this thirty-something at a coffee shop. From here, the plot goes in directions unsuspecting of the viewer. Knowing nothing about the film, you question the motive of the writer, and what the film is trying to accomplish, though at the end of 20-30 minutes, the film takes a turn towards suspense, and the purpose and motivation for the movie gives the viewer an idea about what the writer is trying to say.

Inspired by events in China of young school girls ambushing online sexual predators when they meet in public, this movie is an acquired taste. A viewer may think that acting is sub-par in the first 15-minutes of the movie, though you realize it is part of the plot as the intensity and skills of these individuals are shown as the film progresses. Movie reviewers either applaud or pick apart this unique film. The direction, angles, and use of colors was well done, and the characters personalities, thoughts, and feelings are laid out through visuals and dialogue that are lost in many big blockbusters.

Overall, this movie is worth watching (and I rarely publicly review movies). Pick it up on ebay for cheap or rent it. I was not disappointed, and I hope you are not either.

"Hard Candy", is everything I expected it to be, and then some! GREAT twists and turns in this tormenting psychological drama about a closet pervert who seeks to establish relationships with underage girls over the internet. This successful photographer soon finds, after meeting one fourteen year old, wise beyond her years, that she is more than his match. I won't tell more, as to reveal what occurs, but I found this an interesting film, with much in the way of thought-provoking topics, and retaliations. I rate this movie as being "Very Good", and a real asset to the independent film producers and writers.

I advise seeing this, as it does give the viewer many things to consider concerning the world of pedophile behaviour and those he victimizes.

After seeing the preview, I rented the movie thinking that the pedophile would be the one doing the torturing but clearly the shoe was on the other foot with this movie. Pedophiles beware! This movie was sooo true the point and like the 14 year old said "Pedophiles make it so easy to BLAME A KID" This pedophile got exactly what he deserved! Even though she spared his private parts, it was sooo funny to see a grown man who pray on young girls actually get prayed on himself. I think all kids should see this movie as it not only delivers the message that "all things that look good are not good for you" but also CASTRATION is the best way to go when it comes to pedophiles, serial rapist,etc. Why put these sick people in jail only to have them come back and do the same thing again and again?????? If pedophiles knew CASTRATION would be on the menu for them we would have less sex predators in the world and more decent type men and women walking about the earth. In the movie, she should have went through with it and forget about the numbing process, let the bum suffer like his victims did! This movie gets 4 1/2 stars rather than 5 because she didn't actually castrate the pedophile even though she did convince him to kill himself. Movie is worth buying!

This is a movie worth watching, but I don't know if it's a movie you may want to watch over and over again, so you may just want to rent it. It really boils you up, and gets your blooding flowing. This is a very controversial movie, and teachs a lot about unsafe internet hook ups, and how you should avoid meeting the wrong people. Ellen Page, is really good in this movie, her acting is beyond her years. However, through the whole movie I didn't find her to be a character anyone would really like, but at the same time, you didn't want to see her hurt. You find it hard to believe a 14 year old girl is calling all the shots. Pedophiles are really sick, if it were up to me, i'd had them all thrown in jail. But in this movie a pedophile is tortured and beat up until the point he actually kills himself. Beautiful movie, it's ganna make you think, and the suspence will get your blood flowing.

Ellen Page was most memorable to me in Juno, so after seeing this movie I have a new respect for her as an actress. Hard Candy starts out predictable, older man meets young innocent girl online-they meet in person-he takes her home-they flirt....then....BOOM! I don't want to give away the plot...but, she isn't so innocent, me thinks! But then again, neither was he! My favorite line; the very last spoken words in the movie: "Or not".