Hard Candy (2005)

A teenage girl raids a man's home in order to expose him under suspicion that he is a pedophile.

Director:

David Slade

Writer:

Brian Nelson

Stars:

Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh

10 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Patrick Wilson	...	Jeff Kohlver
Ellen Page	...	Hayley Stark
Sandra Oh	...	Judy Tokuda
Odessa Rae	...	Janelle Rogers (as Jennifer Holmes)
G.J. Echternkamp	...	Nighthawks Clerk (as Gilbert John)

Storyline

After having online chat room chats for three weeks, "Thonggrrrl14" convinces "Lensman319" to meet in person in a public place, they being up front that they are a fourteen year old girl and thirty-two year old man respectively. They are indeed precocious fourteen year old Hayley Stark and thirty-two year old photographer Jeff Kohlver. Their interactions, including their meeting, are laced with indirect sexual innuendo, most specifically on Hayley's part, although Jeff is clear also in an indirect manner that he does not have sex with minors. Regardless, Hayley is further able to convince Jeff to continue their face-to-face at his place. There, both Hayley and Jeff's true intentions come to light, their meeting which was no accident on either side, and the intentions which may be incompatible and have serious and deadly consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

pedophilia | manipulation | missing person poster | sexual predator | online dating | 

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Taglines:

Strangers shouldn't talk to little girls.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent and aberrant sexual content involving a teen, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hard Candy

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$950,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$58,049, 16 April 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,007,962, 4 June 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Films, Vulcan Productions, Launchpad Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to the controversial nature of the film, the budget was kept under a million dollars so the studio wouldn't ask to change anything.

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Goofs

Jeff's facial hair is noticeably thicker in the opening coffee shop scene than it is later in the day.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hayley Stark: Mmm. This is soo good. I want more.
Jeff Kohlver: Don't get greedy.

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Connections

Referenced in Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks: The Body Snatcher (2015)

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Soundtracks

Elephant Woman
Performed by Blonde Redhead
Composed by Blonde Redhead
Licensed Courtesy of 4AD Beggars Group

User Reviews

Wow

I saw this at a late night screening at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and of the 35 films I saw there I would rank this #4. for about the first 10 minutes I didn't know if I was going to like it or where it was going to go but man once this roller-coaster starts moving it's a psychological thriller. Great stylized look to this film too. The acting and story is intense and you can't avert your eyes from the screen even though there are times where you think you might have to. I like movies that have the feel of a stage play and the emotional volleyball between the two principal actors is amazing. A little far-fetched but so what. This is a good movie. I give it a 8.5 out of a possible 10 and would recommend this film.