This hyped-up two-hander could hardly contain more controversial subject matter. It concerns itself with Hayley Stark (Ellen Page), a seemingly innocent 14-year-old.
She conspires to meet up with a fashion photographer whom she thinks is a chatline paedophile. Then she persuades him to take her back to his flat, ties him up and attempts to exact a horrifying retribution.
While the central castration scene is no easy watch for sensitive souls, it can't be called exploitative, since you see practically nothing save for the reactions of the two participants. Hard Candy, in fact, has much more talk than action throughout.
The basic problem is that neither the girl nor Patrick Wilson's photographer is even slightly likeable - and we never really discover whether the man is a paedophile or not. By the end, you actually feel more sympathy for him than her. But the film does deliver some excellent acting, particularly from Page who was 17 when it was shot. There is also an intelligent screenplay from Brian Nelson and a sour-centred drama which is smartly enough made to keep you watching.
The question, however, remains as to why it was made, if not merely to excite; the answer is difficult to discern. Is it that the girl's revenge is as reprehensible as the man's likely offence? This, though, is not clear. Perhaps director David Slade was merely intent on making a superior psychological thriller.
But a subject such as this needs more thought behind it to justify its admittedly powerful and disturbing storyline. As it is, Hard Candy is little more than a cleverly constructed if morally doubtful game.
Hard Candy
Cert: 18
