Hard Candy
Lions Gate Films | Release Date: April 14, 2006
7.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 331 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
258
Mixed:
36
Negative:
37
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
MarkJ.Jan 2, 2007
Hard Candy does not surprise in its ability to leave an audience shell shocked whilst failing to achieve critical acclaim. A brave narrative which revolves around the dialogue between an unbelievably psychotic teenager and a middle aged man Hard Candy does not surprise in its ability to leave an audience shell shocked whilst failing to achieve critical acclaim. A brave narrative which revolves around the dialogue between an unbelievably psychotic teenager and a middle aged man seeking sex with minors never goes further than cliched one-upmanship which becomes as irritating as it is pointless. If your up for a shock thriller which ultimately leaves you knowing nothing more of the characters than you do after 20 minutes, then this will probably be an entertaing 90 minutes, otherwise avoid this at all costs, you'll only be left feeling cheated that you attempted to invest any emotion in what are two poorly structured and equally un-appealing characters.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
6
KivaAug 6, 2013
I can't say that Hard Candy is a great movie but i can't either say that it is a disaster. First of all it has great actors and an excellent cinematography. At the beginning it is a really lame and slow movie and it gets to the last minutes.I can't say that Hard Candy is a great movie but i can't either say that it is a disaster. First of all it has great actors and an excellent cinematography. At the beginning it is a really lame and slow movie and it gets to the last minutes. It is really disturbing all these tortures and I can say that really annoyed me in a good way as i really like movies like Saw. I had great expectations for Hard Candy and I think they were a little bit high. You will only like it if you like sadistic movies like Saw otherwise you will waste your time and you will might feel really seek after watching that film. I give it 6/10 because it starts really bad and it is quite boring. After half an hour it gets more interesting. If only the first scenes were better....… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
BroyaxAug 24, 2020
Un huis-clos certainement saisissant et un face-à-face qui ne manque pas de sel entre Ellen Page et Patrick Wilson... le gars Patrick a déjà prouvé qu'il est un excellent acteur et il le démontre encore une fois dans un rôle pas facile, maUn huis-clos certainement saisissant et un face-à-face qui ne manque pas de sel entre Ellen Page et Patrick Wilson... le gars Patrick a déjà prouvé qu'il est un excellent acteur et il le démontre encore une fois dans un rôle pas facile, ma foi... Quant à la ravissante et si jolie cocotte Ellen, la voilà dans un rôle dont elle a peu l'habitude, pas facile non plus mais elle s'en tire avec brio et incarne ce petit chaperon rouge (qui mord) avec une énergie et un sadisme rarement vus...

Malgré un démarrage un peu trop lent, le film imprime par la suite son rythme de thriller avec une efficacité certaine, puis c'est la foire aux rebondissements typiques du genre avec quelques révélations qui sortent du chapeau... malheureusement, le doute qui planait ne plane plus ou se retrouve si embrouillé dans les justifications hasardeuses du scénario que l'incrédulité prend définitivement le dessus sur tout le reste...

On reste à la fin assez médusé, toujours aussi incrédule et peu satisfait du résultat...est-ce qu'on est alors dans un Saw qui se borne à faire du sadisme... pour le sadisme pur et simple ? c'est peu convaincant et franchement, ça tient difficilement débout. C'est dommage et finalement trop maladroit... ça m'a fait penser d'une certaine façon à la "La Jeune fille et la Mort" mais ici en version ratée !… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
[Anonymous]Apr 22, 2006
This movie was like Home Alone for all male haters. The actors are amusing and the direction in parts is pretty good. But, if I am going to dish out $14 for a movie about someone being tortured, I better see alot of blood guts. Heck, I have This movie was like Home Alone for all male haters. The actors are amusing and the direction in parts is pretty good. But, if I am going to dish out $14 for a movie about someone being tortured, I better see alot of blood guts. Heck, I have seen more gore trick or treating down my street than I did in this movie. I think what tipped this movie from being slightly amusing to full on retarded was just when you thought the movie was ending, they started back up with a new scenario. As if we already didn't get the point!!!! If you want to see real horror, go to this show, and then multiply the number of people who saw it by $14 and then you will have true horror.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
NickD.Jan 27, 2007
Starts off intriguing and tense, but ends up dragging its feet to a silly conclusion all the while transforming the main character into someone irrational and unrealistic. Would have been better as an 80 minute thriller without all the extra Starts off intriguing and tense, but ends up dragging its feet to a silly conclusion all the while transforming the main character into someone irrational and unrealistic. Would have been better as an 80 minute thriller without all the extra twists and turns toward the end.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
StephenS.Jul 13, 2006
Seasoned cinemagoers are entitled to read
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
DazDazSep 13, 2006
After seeing the movie I was left with this overpowering question that needed to be answered, who called the production dog Presley? ....
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
JonathanF.Jan 28, 2008
Ellen Page of course is great, my bet is she'll have a long impressive career. Patrick Wilson is pretty impressive too, probably one of the more underrated male actors of his generation - he was fantastic in Little Children too. The Ellen Page of course is great, my bet is she'll have a long impressive career. Patrick Wilson is pretty impressive too, probably one of the more underrated male actors of his generation - he was fantastic in Little Children too. The movie probably would have been better in my opinion had it stayed on the course it seemed to be heading in the fist 20 minutes, but it turns into some extremely implausible spider web of a film. Some great scenes, but their outcomes are often disappointing. Sandra Oh and Ellen Page together on screen was tasty - yet Oh's role is minuscule. A respectable, well-acted, but ultimately disappointing and confused movie. Make of it what you will.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
TonyBOct 13, 2007
A potentially fascinating subject is given short shrift in this lackluster film. Aside from the excellent acting by the two leads, there is not much to recommend here.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
R.H.Nov 12, 2008
I wish people would stop saying how "striking" this movie was. I mean, yes, its great - its gritty, excellently acted, and cinematic. What i find is basically another thriller in a realistic style. I'm suprized to hear the director say I wish people would stop saying how "striking" this movie was. I mean, yes, its great - its gritty, excellently acted, and cinematic. What i find is basically another thriller in a realistic style. I'm suprized to hear the director say hpw its "unlike how hollywood movies are made". Sorry, i'm getting used to the realistic style by now (Abou Schmidt, Cloverfield, etc.) But i feel like these formal qualities are an excuse not to discuss its content, which i have to say is really noteworthy - i find this to be the most original aspect. What i find frighteningh i guess, is how easily this could easily happen to any guy. In the movie, her actions are partially justified by what he's done previously, but it shows how much power women actually have now on all social levels when it comes to sexual issues. (Some women will say its not enough, but i ask, what is enough?). This movie left me feeling downright frightened to talk to _any_ women... i wonder if that was the intended effect. I think i really need a movie now that resolves some of these issues (since clearly no solutions are offered here). The content is shocking, and original, but not really helpful in any way. (If there are women that feel empowered by this film, then i _am_ really scared. Were her actions justified by his? Maybe. Does that make them right? No.)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
PL-QCMar 11, 2011
Whether you'll like this movie or not highly depends on what you look at when you watch a movie. The acting is stunning, both actors do a tremendous job. Visually, this movie is also superb, the director did an amazing job.

But the script isWhether you'll like this movie or not highly depends on what you look at when you watch a movie. The acting is stunning, both actors do a tremendous job. Visually, this movie is also superb, the director did an amazing job.

But the script is weak. The story drags on for waaaay too long, and the movie loses its initial drive to try to surprise us with plot twists that don't make a lot of sense and just make the whole seem longer. Worth it to see great acting, but otherwise, there are better movies out there.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Compi24May 17, 2020
Effective in the most dire and visceral manner, David Slade's "Hard Candy" is most certainly one of those movies where you have to honestly tilt your head in confusion at those who say it's "entertaining" or "enjoyable." Uneasiness andEffective in the most dire and visceral manner, David Slade's "Hard Candy" is most certainly one of those movies where you have to honestly tilt your head in confusion at those who say it's "entertaining" or "enjoyable." Uneasiness and disgust aside, though, it's still incredibly engrossing, with a terrific, breakout performance from Ellen Page and probably the best one I've seen committed to film from the underrated Patrick Wilson. This is a morally bleak, filthily contemplative look at a kind of hashing out of two evils, with the audience ultimately siding pretty easily with the one that's clearly lesser. But how much of a lesser evil is it? It's gross, cringeworthy and honestly a movie that I wouldn't mind forgetting. But, again. Effective? I can't deny that it is.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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