Hard Candy

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Morgan, Louisa

Love that trailer! This film's a tough sell, due to the amount of twists and turns it takes but it does everything you need to give you an idea of what's in the film without giving away too much, and stylishly too.

This movie is fantastic, it really does suck you in. Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page just going head to head and they are both fascinating to watch. Your opinions and sympathy can change many times throughout the runtime. The film keeps you on edge right from the start and it's pretty much just two people talking in a house.

The entire film seems to be shot with very long lenses and tight focus. The shifting colouring is also very stylised. It's the first time I know of a colourist has been credited up front with the other key positions, it does indeed play a huge role in the feel of this film.

The music is like the rest of the design, sparse, minimalistic, only there when needed, nothing to distract from what is most important in these films, the two characters, the acting and the dialogue. I recognise one of the tracks from Enter the Void but the original music is great too.

David Slade made quite an impression with his first film. It's one that his subsequent films haven't quite lived up too although they are very very different kinds of stories. And they do all look great. But for the moment this is still his best. It's engaging, very unsettling, a little outrageous and filled with grey areas to think about when you're done. Love it.