Changing technologies call for changing times. This of course includes alterations in
cinema. Once something is factored into
the routine occurrences of everyday life, it is inevitable reflected in
film. Take for example the
representation of video games in this year’s laughable Stay Alive, or wireless
technology in Cellular. One integral
part of the world today is the Internet.
Despite its popularity, it has surprisingly not become the subject of
many films since the dawning of the new millennium. Even horror films have failed to give the
postmodern concept a decent stab.
However, a title this year has finally utilized Internet technology into
a premise with undeniable relentlessness.
That picture is Hard Candy.
I think at this point that America
is aware of sexual predators, and how they take advantage of the Internet for
sick ploys at molesting young girls and boys.
Dateline NBC has even capitalized on the horrific sex crimes by
hilariously humiliating these obese 40-year-olds on public television. While widely discussed on the television
circuit, the subject of pedophilia is sometimes considered too racy for
films. Not since Mysterious Skin has a
film tackled this issue head-on, while additionally reflecting on Internet as a
dangerous playground. While Hard Candy
offers a predictable premise, it manages to throw in a few unusual twists
making it one of the bolder films this year.
Haley (Ellen Page) is a 14-year-old girl that is clearly
experiencing the naivety of growing up.
We know this in the first two minutes of the film as she is shown awkwardly
stuffing her face with a chocolate concoction in innocent bliss. However, what we don’t know is why Haley is
enjoying such a delicacy alone in a coffee shop. It turns out she is there to meet Jeff
(Patrick Wilson). Jeff and Haley have
been corresponding on the Internet and are meeting in person for the first
time. While at first this may seem cute,
Jeff is actually a photographer in his 30’s.
After flattering Haley about her beauty and maturity, Jeff
convinces Haley to come back to his house/studio to take a few pictures. While the audience can clearly see the trap
being set by the pervert, Haley fails to recognize this. Or does she?
Once at Jeff’s house, drinks are poured and the scene is set
for an afternoon of…well…whatever arouses the sly sicko. However, what Jeff does not see is the true
side of Haley. While he meaninglessly
compliments his guest on her maturity as a psychological tactic, Jeff fails to
realize that Haley is more mature than she appears, and that the tables are
about to turn.
Hard Candy is a game of cat-and-mouse that may be difficult
for some to swallow. For sensitive
viewers, this may be because of the revealing look at sexual predators. For cinephiles, this may be because of the
absurdity of a 14-year-old girl developing an elaborate plan of tact and
vengeance. Obviously, people will have
their reasons for not digesting this film 100% and it even took me weeks to
think through the intricacies of the plot and its strong characters.
So what is the diagnosis? Despite some
impossibility in the narrative, Hard Candy is one of the most gripping films
this year that dares to cross thresholds that other films dare not cross. It is a tad absurd for a 14-year-old girl to so
knowingly carry out the elaborate acts that she does. However, this is not a film that is trying to
accurately match real life. In
actuality, a teenage girl will fall prey to a manipulative predator. While this is clearly any young person’s
nightmare, Hard Candy dares to explore the nightmares on the other side of the
computer screen. In this case, the
victimizer encounters a force more cunning than him, and pays the ultimate
price.
While the film has its fair share of plot twists, Hard Candy
is a character-driven film through-and-through.
Newcomer Ellen Page (also seen this year in X-Men 3) delivers a
powerful, two-sided performance as Haley and gives the film the vivacity it
needs. This does not go without
mentioning Patrick Wilson as the slimeball photographer. What makes his performance winning is his
transition from crafty to fearful. In
some instances, Wilson even goes so
far to convince the audience that he is truly sorry for his actions and
deserves release from his sexual sins.
Now that is quality acting!
Hard Candy is not a film for everyone. It takes the well-known problem of sexual
predation and tackles it without hesitation.
However, beyond its layer of discomfort, this is a film that delivers
the goods from both its genius script and its performances from Wilson
and Page. I highly recommend film-lovers
to purchase this title, but recommend that anyone rent this. Despite its touchy subject matter, director
David Slade discusses a much-avoided subject that needs to be seen. In the end, Hard Candy is not a shiny, happy
project, but it gets every aspect of its dark edginess down pat.
Grade:
A-