Hard Candy is a 2005 crime film directed by David Slade, starring Ellen Page (Juno), Patrick Wilson (Insidious), and Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy).  The film focuses on the torture of a male sexual predator, Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson) by a 14-year-old female vigilante, Hayley Stark (Ellen Page).

This story’s actually pretty interesting and there are thrilling moments. It’s got a very tense atmosphere that actually stays with the movie the entire time. I will say that there are some pretty intense scenes that are quite disturbing. Having said that, the movie’s pretty slow paced and I realize that it’s not for everyone. There are revelations that makes the story thrilling though some of the “shocking” moments don’t quite hit for me. The ending was decent and I left the movie satisfied for what they were going for. (3 out of 5)

The characters are interesting and well written. One of the best aspects of the movie is that you don’t really know who to side with. There’s the question of is Jeff a pedophile? Hayley believes he is and that he should be punished. But is he actually one? And on the side of Hayley, if Jeff is a pedophile, is it wrong that she’s torturing him. You feel for both sides and that makes for compelling characters, one being a psychotic teenager and a perverted middle aged man. Just interesting characters. (3 out of 5)

Really enjoyed the performances by the two main leads, Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson. It’s hard to have a movie with so few actors but these two manage to make it work. There are moments where Page does ham up the character and depending on your view of the character this can be a good or bad thing. It didn’t bother me and even helped to emphasize her character’s conviction. Sandra Oh unfortunately isn’t given much to do despite being such a talented actress. (3 out of 5)

Visually, this isn’t a bad looking movie. It’s hard to shoot a movie in one location and make it engaging. Despite the house being the major set piece, the movie is shot rather well. Particularly the focus on the characters. There are disturbing scenes and the lack of blood and gore isn’t missed. (3 out of 5)

Molly Nyman and Harry Escott have done the music and it’s decent. They’re experienced and it lends itself to the movie in a good way. The suspense builds and it’s well-warranted. There are plenty of segments that tones down on the music allowing for more pronounced conversation. I’ve come to appreciate moments like this in movies as it does allow for the performances to shine unfiltered. (3 out of 5)

Liked the movie’s focus on child pedophilia without it feeling like a caricature or being overly ridiculous. David Slade directed the movie and his approach to the subject is both serious and intelligent. His focus on the characters makes for a compelling narration. I like that his trust in the actors brings the story alive.

I didn’t mind David Slade’s direction and even thought it was a great way of approaching such a problematic issue. The writing is pretty clever and the complexity makes for some interesting dialogue between characters. There are some questionable moments from time to time but they don’t overshadow the overall viewing experience. It’s an interesting cat and mouse game that goes off the rails at times but doesn’t deviate from its premise. (3 out of 5)

In the end, Hard Candy is a thought provoking movie on many levels. It’s not a movie for everyone and it touches on a sensitive subject and realistic issue in society. It’s a slow burn and Page’s performance can be seen as a little over-the-top. However, it’s a pretty film with good direction and good writing. Hard Candy gets 3 out of 5.