Hard Candy

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Hard Candy

R

2005

1h 43m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Hayley is a precocious teenager who goes to a coffee shop to meet Jeff, the photographer she met on the internet. Jeff thinks he is in for a real treat, but Hayley plays a trick on him. After drugging Jeff and tying him down, Hayley reveals that she knows Jeff preys on teenage girls, and she has a plan to wring a confession from him.

Critics Consensus

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

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

11/15/2011

Personally, I'd rather have this movie obliterated from my memory.

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Caroline Westbrook

Empire Magazine

12/30/2006

4/5

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.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

07/14/2006

This swamp gets very murky indeed. Bring your moral compass.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

11/27/2023

4.5/5

A masterclass in direction, screenwriting and acting, Hard Candy goes for the jugular and never lets up.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

11/23/2023

4/5

David Slade's directorial feature is low key a secret rape/revenge film that features powerhouse performances from Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson and plenty of uncomfortable moments.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

12/02/2020

4.5/5

Nelson's taut, smart script and believable dialogue keeps the tension crackling throughout the 103-minute running time, changing gears just when you think you've got it all figured out.

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Joe S

@HorrorCritic96 2d

God awful acting and one of the easiest storylines to predict I have ever seen. Key details are left about about Jeff and "Hayley's" acting is so poor it makes me almost want to root for the villain. 1/10, I would give it a zero but at least I managed to get through the entire trash movie

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Mark C.

@mrpiggy1992 May 21

Patrick and Elliott at their best

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Downriver R

@Downriver Apr 10

This is I wasn't expecting to be as good as it was. I've seen this a few times now and it still holds water. Awsome acting by Patrick wilson.

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chen X

@Sanguinrik Mar 27

No logic. Awkward camera work. Awkward dialogue. The characterization is rubbish. The enforcer is not righteous enough, and the punished isn't evil enough. The camera's focus is extremely odd. No one wants to see the director's self-rightrous pacing.

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Justin T

@RT08580778 Feb 25

This is just a wonder to look at. The imagery is beautiful. I mean not many films have such amazing cinematography in them. It really pays off in making this fascinating to watch. The acting was brilliant. This is a tense thriller with an unexpected story. The film is laid bare early on into the proceedings and there is little story development from there but the characters carry it. The good thing is the style and value of this production. This is not a horror film by a long shot. This is just a really well made dramatic film with controversial content handled well. The problem is that being so character and drama driven is that you are reliant on your engagement with the characters. And there are only two characters and I didn’t empathise with either so I was more disconnected than I should have been.

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Steven F.

@SteveGotScored Feb 20

Holy moly what an intense thriller!

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David Slade

Director

Patrick Wilson

Geoff Kohlver

Elliot Page

Hayley Stark

Sandra Oh

Judy Tokuda

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Synopsis

Hayley is a precocious teenager who goes to a coffee shop to meet Jeff, the photographer she met on the internet. Jeff thinks he is in for a real treat, but Hayley plays a trick on him. After drugging Jeff and tying him down, Hayley reveals that she knows Jeff preys on teenage girls, and she has a plan to wring a confession from him.

Director: David Slade
Producer: Paul Allen, David Higgins, Jody Patton, Michael Caldwell, Richard Hutton
Screenwriter: Brian Nelson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Launchpad Productions, IcePack Pictures, Lions Gate Films, Vulcan Productions
Rating: R (Involving Teen|Aberrant Sexual Content|Language|Violent Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 43m

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