Little Red Vigilante Hood
Have you ever wondered how to make an amazing thriller with a low budget? Hard Candy
seems to be the ultimate example. This movie uses a single closed set (with the exception of a short scene in a coffee shop) and only 2 main characters who support the entire plot on their shoulders. This piece is a modern version of the Little Red Riding Hood fable. 14-year-old Hayley meets 32-year-old Jeff in a coffee shop after spending 3 weeks chatting on the web. As it turns out, Hayley staged the whole thing to hunt who she suspects to be a sex offender. The prey soon becomes the predator. When you choose to make a movie that rests upon the emotional presence of a duo and the credibility of a dialogue, you'd better not fail the casting process. Patrick Wilson, who I've always thought was an underrated actor, excels in the very demanding role of Jeff Kohlver, the presumed pedophile. His counterpart is a Converse-wearing teenager who turns out to be his worst nightmare. Ellen Page perfectly masters this clever and sarcastic part. Nearing the end, you can enjoy the short appearance of Sandra Oh. This is always 'mucho' appreciated. This story is imagination-driven and based on make-believes. It psychologically tortures you as you try to find out who's the wolf. The way the movie was directed gives you room for interpretation. As a matter of fact, you have to imagine a lot of things as you don't ever see actual details of key facts. Everything you feel while watching the movie is due to the intensity of the actors' performance. The silences, the dialogues, the look in their eyes... Nothing is left to chance. The visual style of director David Slade is absorbing: the flickering camera, the intense close-ups, the use of colors. His film is a very artistic marvel. The omnipresence of this color red reflects Hayley's intentions. The colors turn from pastel to bright or dark following the anguish of Jeff, the anger of Hayley, or the plot's tempo. Color is the thrid party of the storyline. The writing is witty and full of delightful references for nerds. Hard Candy is a suspenseful and disturbing masterpiece on vengeance that will blow your mind. Whether you love it or you hate it, you won't escape unhurt from its screening.
seems to be the ultimate example. This movie uses a single closed set (with the exception of a short scene in a coffee shop) and only 2 main characters who support the entire plot on their shoulders. This piece is a modern version of the Little Red Riding Hood fable. 14-year-old Hayley meets 32-year-old Jeff in a coffee shop after spending 3 weeks chatting on the web. As it turns out, Hayley staged the whole thing to hunt who she suspects to be a sex offender. The prey soon becomes the predator. When you choose to make a movie that rests upon the emotional presence of a duo and the credibility of a dialogue, you'd better not fail the casting process. Patrick Wilson, who I've always thought was an underrated actor, excels in the very demanding role of Jeff Kohlver, the presumed pedophile. His counterpart is a Converse-wearing teenager who turns out to be his worst nightmare. Ellen Page perfectly masters this clever and sarcastic part. Nearing the end, you can enjoy the short appearance of Sandra Oh. This is always 'mucho' appreciated. This story is imagination-driven and based on make-believes. It psychologically tortures you as you try to find out who's the wolf. The way the movie was directed gives you room for interpretation. As a matter of fact, you have to imagine a lot of things as you don't ever see actual details of key facts. Everything you feel while watching the movie is due to the intensity of the actors' performance. The silences, the dialogues, the look in their eyes... Nothing is left to chance. The visual style of director David Slade is absorbing: the flickering camera, the intense close-ups, the use of colors. His film is a very artistic marvel. The omnipresence of this color red reflects Hayley's intentions. The colors turn from pastel to bright or dark following the anguish of Jeff, the anger of Hayley, or the plot's tempo. Color is the thrid party of the storyline. The writing is witty and full of delightful references for nerds. Hard Candy is a suspenseful and disturbing masterpiece on vengeance that will blow your mind. Whether you love it or you hate it, you won't escape unhurt from its screening.
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