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"HARD CANDY"
(2006) (Ellen Page, Patrick Wilson) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Mild Moderate Extreme Moderate Moderate
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild None Moderate None Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Heavy None None Heavy Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Drama/Suspense: A 14-year-old girl turns the tables on a 32-year-old pedophile who was after her.
PLOT:
Having previously "met" on the Internet several weeks ago, 14-year-old Hayley Stark (ELLEN PAGE) and 32-year-old photographer Jeff Kohlver (PATRICK WILSON) finally meet each other in person. The two hit it off, and after some mutual sexual flirting, they agree to go back to his place. She's wise enough to know not to drink something given to her (to avoid consuming any sort of date rape drug), but all signs indicate she's about to make a big mistake.

And then the tables are turned when Jeff realizes too late that he's the one who's been drugged. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself bound to a chair with Hayley now his tormentor who's seemingly thought of everything, including making sure his neighbors are away so as not to hear anything. With her intent on torturing him for his pedophilic ways, he tries to figure out how to deal with the situation that seems headed toward an unsavory act.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Some older teens might be intrigued by it, but it otherwise doesn't seem too likely.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For disturbing violent and aberrant sexual content involving a teen, and for language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • PATRICK WILSON plays a 32-year-old photographer and resident pedophile who's set his sights on 14-year-old Hayley. Charming and friendly, he thinks he's manipulating her into having sex with him when he learns -- too late -- that she's turned the tables and now has the upper hand. Once he realizes her intent (to castrate him), he tries everything he can to convince her otherwise. He uses strong profanity.
  • ELLEN PAGE plays a 14-year-old girl who goes from potential victim to kidnapper and torturer when she turns the tables on the older man. Determined to teach him a lesson, she prepares to castrate him (and thus inflict both physical and psychological harm on him). She does some underage drinking and uses strong profanity.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a quick look at the content found in this dramatic thriller that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 20 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, including that related to a 32-year-old pedophile being after a precocious 14-year-old girl (who ends up abducting and then torturing him). That girl is briefly seen in her bra while sexually teasing the man, while we later see his bare hip when she has him tied prone to a table as she prepares to castrate him.

    Other violence includes brief additional torture and some fighting between the two of them (including hitting and brief/partial suffocation via a plastic bag), while a person commits suicide by hanging (jumping off a roof, but we don't see the impact of that act). Those scenes may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, while heavy thematic material is obviously present and some of the behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. That includes spiking a person's drink with a date rape type drug, while some underage drinking occurs.

    If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

    For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a great deal of camera movement throughout the film (sometimes a lot to symbolize what's occurring in the film).


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Hayley makes herself a screwdriver drink with vodka from Jeff's freezer. She then tells him not to fall behind (in drinking) and then makes herself another one.
  • Hayley says she went through Jeff's medicine cabinet that she found boring, as there was no "Valley of the Dolls" stuff in it, but then says she wonders about the lubricants.
  • Hayley sterilizes Jeff's just-shaved crotch area with vodka (we don't see anything explicit).
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • While tied to a rolling chair, Jeff kicks Hayley quite hard, sending her to the floor with a bloody cut on her forehead. We later see dried blood there.
  • Hayley holds up what she claims are bloody testicles (in separate glasses) and we see several views of them. She then grinds them up in the garbage disposal and sarcastically says, "I guess they weren't brass."
  • Jeff picks up a straight razor that has some blood on it.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Jeff is a pedophile who's after the underage Hayley, while she turns the tables on him, taking him hostage and then torturing him (physically and mentally).
  • Jeff tells a story of when he was younger and a female child relative would play a game with him where she'd come out of the tub naked, and then climb onto and tickle him. He then says that when his aunt found them, she sent the girl back to the tub, started a gas burner on the stove and "lifted him" (meaning his penis) to that, threatening him if he ever did it again (all verbalized, nothing seen in flashback).
  • Jeff admits that he didn't kill a missing girl, but did watch another man do that.
  • It's implied that Hayley has done the same (kidnapped and tortured) another pedophile.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • While tied to a rolling chair, Jeff kicks Hayley quite hard, sending her to the floor with a bloody cut on her forehead. While she's dazed, he rolls himself into his bedroom and eventually retrieves his handgun off the bed (holding it in his still tied-up hand). He then rolls out, looking for her, but she suddenly wraps plastic wrap around his head. He rolls her back into the wall several times and fires his gun once, but the plastic eventually suffocates him to the point of losing consciousness. After that and upset, she bangs her back against a wall several times, quite hard.
  • Hayley announces to Jeff (who's tied up prone on a table with his pants down) that she's going to castrate him.
  • As Hayley prepares to castrate Jeff, he yells and pleads for her not to.
  • We hear the sound of Hayley cutting into Jeff's scrotum, but don't see anything, although she provides some commentary while doing so. SPOILER ALERT: Despite that going on for a few minutes, her tugging at his body down there, and then holding what look like his bloody testicles, he later learns that she faked the entire thing.
  • Jeff manages to free himself, and rather than call 911, he grabs a straight razor and heads for the bathroom where we hear the shower running (and where Hayley is supposedly taking a shower). He then yanks open the curtain, but she's not there. Instead, she shows up and repeatedly zaps him with some sort of personal shocking device, and then does so again out in the hallway until he's completely passive.
  • Jeff wakes up to find that Hayley has him standing on a chair with a noose around his neck attached to the ceiling. When the doorbell rings, she places tape over his mouth and then later returns. He then grabs her around the neck with his legs, but ends up choking himself in the process. She flees and he ends up standing on the kitchen table and then frees himself, grabbing a large kitchen knife before setting out to look for Hayley as she hides.
  • Jeff comes at Hayley with a large kitchen knife, but she aims his handgun at him and even fires a warning shot.
  • A man commits suicide by jumping from a roof with a noose around his neck (we see the initial jump that then goes out of the camera shot).
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Handgun/Kitchen Knife/Electronic Zapper: Carried and/or used to threaten or harm others. See "Violence" for details.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "What the f*ck are you doing?" "Scream your f*cking brains out," "I f*cking hate..." "F*ck off," "Putting it f*cking mildly," "F*ck you," "You're so f*cking good," "Bullsh*t," "Jerking off" (masturbating), "Shut up," "Babes," "I'm a goon," "You don't piss where you live," "Nymphs," "Bitch," "This is officially sick," "Ball(s)" (testicles), "You and your mom are both whacked," "You're insane," "Don't piss me off" and "Who the hell are you?"
  • Hayley spikes Jeff's drink with some substance that renders him unconscious. She then has him bound to a chair and then proceeds to torture him (physically and mentally).
  • A man commits suicide by jumping from a roof with a noose around his neck (we see the initial jump that then goes out of the camera shot).
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • A moderate amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 20 "f" words (1 used sexually as are 6 terms such as variations of "do," "banged," "popped" and "screwed"), 2 "s" words, 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 hell, 2 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "G-damn" and "God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Before we ever see them or they meet, Jeff and Hayley exchange instant messages via the Internet, with him saying he's fantasizing about her and her saying, "Let's do it...hook up, I mean." There's talk about him videotaping her and him then not needing to fantasize, and after she says she's going to shower, he says that he'll picture that.
  • Hayley talks of actresses who've slept with all the wrong people and then killed themselves. Jeff tells her not to do that and she jokes that she won't as she plans to sleep with all of the right people.
  • There's some sexual teasing between Jeff and Hayley, with him saying she's a girl who wants, needs...more chocolate. He tells her that good things are worth the wait and that he'll have to wait four years for her. She then goes off to the public restroom to try on a t-shirt he just bought her, with her telling him "No peeking." She then suggestively says maybe he should and then shows him a brief view of her in her bra when she opens the door.
  • Hayley comments on the large photos of young models on Jeff's wall, saying they're there "while you're doing intimate things."
  • Referring to the women he's photographed, Jeff tells Hayley that she's wondering how many "I've done it with" and then says none. She playfully tells him that secretly he would like to "do them," and he then says there was only one he slept with, but adds that was when they were both younger. He then says that everything he knows is from practicing with her.
  • Hayley removes her top (we see her in her bra) and does some sexy dancing for Jeff, but he starts to have blurred vision and more as whatever she spiked his drink with takes effect and he eventually collapses and passes out.
  • Hayley says she went through Jeff's medicine cabinet that she found boring, as there was no "Valley of the Dolls" stuff in it, but then says she wonders about the lubricants.
  • Hayley makes another comment about Jeff "doing it" with the models he photographed, and mentions him going after girls who've barely had their first period.
  • Hayley says that Jeff's "drug" is "sweet little 14-year-old flesh."
  • Hayley says that just because girls can imitate being a woman doesn't mean they should do what women do. She also comments on "underage nymphs."
  • After looking through Jeff's place, Hayley announces that she hasn't found any porn, and thinks that's strange since "all guys have porn in their crib." She then comments on the non-pornographic pictures of young models he has on the wall, saying that she bets they're not his "stroke shots."
  • Hayley wonders about a photo of a young model and its connection to the "first time you banged her?"
  • Jeff wakes up to find himself tied prone to a table with his pants down and a large bag of ice on his presumably bare crotch (we don't see anything there, but do see several views of his bare hip and leg). She says this isn't about sex, but then adds, "I have to admit, you are built." It's then suggested that she has many views of his penis and scrotum, but we don't ever see them.
  • Hayley mentions something about kiddie porn.
  • When Jeff says his career would be ruined if his secret came out, Hayley points out that Roman Polanski won an Oscar years after he was outed for having sex with a young teen.
  • Jeff tells a story of when he was younger and a female child relative would play a game with him where she'd come out of the tub naked, and then climb onto and tickle him. He then says that when his aunt found them, she sent the girl back to the tub, started a gas burner on the stove and "lifted him" (meaning his penis) to that, threatening him if he ever did it again (all verbalized, nothing seen in flashback).
  • Trying to convince Hayley in any way not to castrate him, Jeff tells her she can do whatever she wants, including "piss on me."
  • About castrating Jeff, Hayley says, "No more sex."
  • Hayley talks about Jeff pleading before, mocking him by saying "Pretty please with a cherry on top -- the one you popped."
  • Hayley makes a comment about Jeff "jerking off."
  • Coming at Hayley with a knife, Jeff asks, "Who do you want to f*ck first, me or the knife?"
  • When Jeff asks who she is, Hayley says she's every little girl "you screwed."
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • None.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Pedophiles.
  • Chatting and then hooking up with people you don't know on the Internet.
  • Not allowing strangers to fix you drinks (since they can be spiked with "date rape" type drugs).
  • Jeff's comment that people's faces lie.
  • Hayley says that just because girls can imitate being a woman doesn't mean they should do what women do.
  • When Jeff says his career would be ruined if his secret came out, Hayley points out that Roman Polanski won an Oscar years after he was outed for having sex with a young teen.
  • There's talk of a missing girl and Hayley points out that Jeff has a (clothed) photo of her in his place.
  • VIOLENCE
  • After being drugged, Jeff wakes up to find himself tied to a chair.
  • When Jeff starts to yell while tied up, Hayley sprays something into his mouth to make him stop, saying next time it will be bleach.
  • While tied to a rolling chair, Jeff kicks Hayley quite hard, sending her to the floor with a bloody cut on her forehead. While she's dazed, he rolls himself into his bedroom and eventually retrieves his handgun off the bed (holding it in his still tied-up hand). He then rolls out, looking for her, but she suddenly wraps plastic wrap around his head. He rolls her back into the wall several times and fires his gun once, but the plastic eventually suffocates him to the point of losing consciousness. After that and upset, she bangs her back against a wall several times, quite hard.
  • Jeff yells and Hayley again sprays something into his mouth that makes him stop.
  • We hear the sound of Hayley cutting into Jeff's scrotum, but don't see anything, although she provides some commentary while doing so. SPOILER ALERT: Despite that going on for a few minutes, her tugging at his body down there, and then holding what look like his bloody testicles, he later learns that she faked the entire thing.
  • Hayley repeatedly zaps Jeff with some sort of personal shocking device, and then does so again out in the hallway until he's completely passive.
  • Jeff wakes up to find that Hayley has him standing on a chair with a noose around his neck attached to the ceiling. When the doorbell rings, she places tape over his mouth and then later returns. He then grabs her around the neck with his legs, but ends up choking himself in the process. She flees and he ends up standing on the kitchen table and then frees himself, grabbing a large kitchen knife before setting out to look for Hayley as she hides.
  • Frustrated by what's occurred, Jeff repeatedly stabs a large kitchen knife into a large photo on his wall.
  • Jeff comes at Hayley with a large kitchen knife, but she aims his handgun at him and even fires a warning shot.
  • A man commits suicide by jumping from a roof with a noose around his neck (we see the initial jump that then goes out of the camera shot).



  • Reviewed March 20, 2006 / Posted May 5, 2006

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