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Movies / On DVD / Hard Candy
Hard Candy

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Hard Candy (2005)

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Reviews Counted:129

Fresh:87

Rotten:42

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Disturbing, controversial, but entirely engrossing, Hard Candy is well written with strong lead performances, especially that of newcomer Ellen Page. A movie that stays with the viewer long after leaving the theater.

Rated: 18 [See Full Rating] for disturbing violent and aberrant sexual content involving a teen, and for language.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:16-06-2006

Synopsis: Hayley's a smart, charming teenage girl -- but even smart girls make mistakes. She's hooking up in a coffee shop with Jeff, a guy she's met on the Internet. And even though he's a cute,... Hayley's a smart, charming teenage girl -- but even smart girls make mistakes. She's hooking up in a coffee shop with Jeff, a guy she's met on the Internet. And even though he's a cute, smooth high-end fashion photographer in his early 30s, Hayley shouldn't be suggesting that the two of them go back to his house-alone. When they get there, Hayley quickly finds some vodka and starts mixing screwdrivers. She even suggests a photo shoot and strips off some clothing. Everything is going well for Jeff… until his vision blurs and fades, and he passes out. It turns out Hayley has spiked Jeff's screwdriver, and when he revives, he's tied down with Hayley searching through his place. She doesn't think it'll take too long to get a confession that she's not the first teenage girl Jeff's brought home and, more importantly, that her prisoner knows what happened to Donna Mauer, another girl who disappeared from Jeff's favorite coffee shop. And if he's unwilling to confess, well, she has another plan -- She uses an icepack as a homemade anesthetic… She starts shaving an incision site… She's learned a lot from the internet -- including this little surgical procedure she's dying to try… Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page star in HARD CANDY, a provocative psychological thriller directed by David Slade, written by Brian Nelson, produced by David Higgins, Richard Hutton and Michael Caldwell, and executive produced by Jody Patton and Rosanne Korenberg. It is the latest film produced by Vulcan Productions (FAR FROM HEAVEN, TITUS) in association with Launchpad Productions. -- © Lions Gate Films [More]

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh, Jennifer Holmes

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh, Jennifer Holmes

Director: David Slade

Director: David Slade
Screenwriter: Brian Nelson
Composer: Harry Escott, Molly Nyman
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

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  • Exclusive Clip: "Hiding Something"
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    Exclusive Clip: "Busted"
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    Exclusive Clip: "Stop"
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Reviews for Hard Candy

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Thoroughly confounding the 'normal' relationship between abuser and victim, first-time director Slade presents a complex morality tale under the guise of an exploitation thriller.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
06/15/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A cracking little thriller which makes you think even as it’s keeping you on the edge of your seat. It’s not always easy viewing, but Hard Candy is an intelligent, challenging film which deserves to be seen.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Caroline Westbrook
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Smart, challenging and timely look at the world of internet grooming.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
06/24/06
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

It's smart, funny, and surprisingly visually discreet. Some scenes may leave you doubled-up, but the overall effect is, as the saying goes, better than a kick in the balls.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
06/24/06
Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode
Observer [UK]

A film that will have you both squirming in your seat and teetering on the edge of it.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
06/24/06
Stella Papamichael
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Packaged in an increasingly lurid, credibility-free storyline, delivered with unstinting insensitivity by a first-time director determined to show off his ad-man’s box of visual tics.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Trevor Johnston
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[Hard Candy is] a stylishly directed thriller that's worth seeing for its intense performances, but there are too few surprises and the end result is disappointing.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
06/17/06
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

It's not the surprise that keeps us gripped; it's the deeply creepy writing and amazingly raw performances that do it.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/06/06
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Slick slime wrapped as a high-toned, girl-power shocker

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
08/30/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix

British director David Slade announces himself as a master of economy and discrimination by leaving the horror to the audience's imagination. This movie will make you squirm like you've never squirmed before.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/15/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
Bob Mondello
NPR.org

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

... [I]t's Page who really carries the picture, delivering screenwriter Brian Nelson's clever dialogue so convincingly, we actually become scared for the child predator that she's tormenting.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
06/18/08
Lucius Gore
Lucius Gore
ESplatter

a great suspence thriller in the likes of misery

Full Review Source: sbs.is | comment Comment
01/07/08
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

It's the kind of indie film that makes its mark by a controversial theme, an infamous scene, and dines out on its film-festival buzz.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
10/20/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

The film's strength is in the way it continually sustains suspense, particularly in the use of sound effects. Very little is shown, but much is heard.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
04/08/07
Jette Kernion
Jette Kernion
Cinematical

Unreels with smooth pace and unexpected grace notes, both visually and by its two leads.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
02/06/07
Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece
Film Journal International

A psychological thriller in which the mouse hunts the cat.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/17/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Strong one-on-one acting elevates this table-turning horror show.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
11/08/06
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Latest News for Hard Candy

December 06, 2007: Ellen Page on Juno: The RT Interview
Canadian actress Ellen Page is an anomaly in Hollywood. The star of this week's Juno has been in movies since the age of 10, has the face of a 14-year-old and the pop... More...

June 18, 2007: Patrick Wilson (Pretty Much) Confirmed for "Watchmen"
He did great work in both "Hard Candy" and "Little Children," so now it might be time for Patrick Wilson's shot at the comic book material. More...

December 27, 2006: Foster a Vampire Groupie for "30 Days of Night"
After playing troubled, goth-influenced teens in projects like "Six Feet Under" and "Hostage," it's about time Ben Foster just went right to the vampires. In... More...

April 14, 2006: JB's Exclusive "Candy" Clip
One of my very favorite movies of the year (so far, anyway) is Brian Nelson & David Slade's Hard Candy, a tough and steely psycho-thriller about an internet predator, an... More...

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