Hard Candy was directed by David Slade and was his first feature film: it was independently released in 2006.
Hard Candy Plot
The film opens with an online conversation between Hayley and Jeff who agree to meet for the first time at a nearby café, Nighthawks. They chat over coffee and it is revealed that Hayley is an honours-student, aged fourteen, and Jeff is a successful photographer, aged thirty-two. The pair decide to go back to Jeff’s house where things quickly get out of hand.
Sinister Findings
Hayley spikes Jeff’s drink; when he regains consciousness he is tied to a chair. Hayley reveals that she has been following his movements for months and suspects that he is a pedophile. She manages to crack a safe hidden in a rock pool in his house and finds an extensive collection of child pornography, as well as a photograph of a missing girl, Donna Mauer.
Castration
Jeff disarms Hayley, but still being tied to the chair, he is asphyxiated into unconsciousness by Hayley. When he regains consciousness for the second time, he is naked on a table: Hayley informs him that she will castrate him. A long conversation follows but Jeff denies having any involvement in Donna Mauer’s disappearance. Hayley proceeds with the operation.
However, Jeff manages to break free of his ties and discovers that he has not been castrated at all. Hayley attacks Jeff with a stun-gun and he is knocked unconscious again. When he awakes, he is standing on the kitchen side with a noose around his neck. Hayley is briefly interrupted by a neighbour, played by Sandra Oh, but Hayley fobs her off with an excuse.
Choices
Meanwhile, Jeff has freed himself again; Jeff pursues her to the roof. Hayley reveals that she has called his ex-girlfriend, Janelle, who is on her way to the house. Hayley encourages him to kill himself, with the assurance that she will hide the evidence of his crimes if he does so, or live with the consequences of the crimes he has committed.
The film builds to its explosive climax as Jeff and Hayley are on the roof when Janelle arrives: Jeff eventually chooses to jump from the roof after admitting that he ‘only watched’ Donna Mauer’s murder take place.
Inspiration
The inspiration for the film came from reports that Japanese girls had been luring older men to various locations; when the men arrived a gang of girls would assault and mug the men in question.
Uniqueness
Not only is Hard Candy a disturbing film, but it is unique, in that it turns its back on ‘typical’ Hollywood styles and traits.
It has a remarkably small cast, of just five people and cost $1 million to make; this small budget allowed the film makers to ensure that the content of the film would not be changed.
Hard Candy was also filmed in just eighteen days and used just nine minutes of film; the majority of sounds within the film would make up the soundtrack.
Reception
Regardless of its controversial nature, the film received fairly positive reviews when it premiered at the 2005 Sundance Festival. It subsequently won numerous awards.
Reviews
Described by Rotten Tomatoes as ‘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.’
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