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.
) by Almod
by Polanski, and 
by Haneke. The result is something totally different from those films, but Confine has a certain flair that reminded me of a sort of combination of the three. Take Almod
follows the disintegration of an Australian crime family. Josh (James Frecheville) moves in with his grandma after his mother dies from a heroin overdose. He soon becomes trapped in a vicious spiral rooted in his family's business. The story is set in Melbourne and is inspired by the infamous Pettingill family. Cold-blooded murders, hypocrisy, drugs and more... This movie gives me everything I need to feed my sick curiosity. From the flawless cast, I'd like to specifically mention Jacki Weaver who is sublime and ferociously sweet as The Godmother. Weaver collected another Academy Award nomination for this role. James Frecheville, the introverted pawn of the story, is a true revelation. Proof is that he went on to act side by side with Robin Wright and Naomi Watts in 
smells like the Everglades and releases an intriguing scent wherever it infiltrates. 
takes you out on a yacht, or makes you visit the gators (this film seriously makes me think of a typical Florida tourism brochure). The end will blow you away for sure. The cast is eclectic and brilliant (Kevin Bacon is an incredible dirty cop and the 2 main female leads are gorgeous and dangerously manipulative). The sex scenes are audacious and necessary to the plot. The film mixes humor (you can't escape it with Bill Murray in the cast) and seriousness which makes it a perfect combo. 
. The nerve-racking tune that follows Michael Douglas' character all along the movie is but equal to the harrowing dark atmosphere in which the plot evolves. The two brothers on screen are brilliant and the suspense keeps you on the edges of your seat until the end. 
is a mind-twister that is remarkably orchestrated by Fincher. I watched this more than a decade ago for the first time and it tensed me up back then. A few days ago, I watched it again to write this review and even as I thought I remembered the end, it kept me hanging on until the last twist. Now it's your turn to join the game (
of the 
, not the