Hard Candy (2005)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

David Slade

Writer (WGA):

Brian Nelson (written by)

Release Date:

14 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Strangers shouldn't talk to little girls.

Plot:

A mature 14-year old girl meets a charming 32-year old photographer on the Internet. Suspecting that he is a pedophile, she goes to his home in an attempt to expose him.

Plot Keywords:

Photographer | Internet | Chatting | Tied Up | Torture

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

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)

Directed by
David Slade

Writing credits (WGA)
Brian Nelson		(written by)

Produced by
Paul G. Allen	....	executive producer
Michael Caldwell	....	producer
Ellora Chowdhury	....	post producer
Erica Farjo	....	associate producer: US
David Higgins	....	producer (as David W. Higgins)
Richard Hutton	....	producer
Barney Jeffrey	....	associate producer: UK
Rosanne Korenberg	....	executive producer
Brian Nelson	....	co-producer
Jody Patton	....	executive producer
Hans C. Ritter	....	co-producer (as Hans Ritter)
Alex Webster	....	post producer

Original Music by
Harry Escott
Molly Nyman

Cinematography by
Jo Willems		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Art Jones

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey

Production Design by
Jeremy Reed

Art Direction by
Felicity Nove

Set Decoration by
Kate Holliday		(as Kathryn Holliday)

Costume Design by
Jennifer Johnson

Makeup Department
Keston Ridley	....	hair stylist
Keston Ridley	....	makeup artist
Linda Sammut	....	assistant hair stylist
Linda Sammut	....	assistant makeup artist
Robert Wild	....	assistant hair stylist
Robert Wild	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Yari Schutzer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Liehn	....	second assistant director
Katie Mustard	....	additional second assistant director
Barry Wasserman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Thomas Benton	....	leadman
Mike Calvert	....	storyboard artist
Erik Davidson	....	graphic designer: Vulcan Productions
Matt Diamond	....	swing
Will Durham	....	swing
Christina Forrer	....	camera track previsualization
Peter Kim	....	additional set decorator
Greg Lang	....	set dresser
Lee Lazarow	....	property master
Genevieve Liebowitz	....	prop assistant
Frankie Mazzotta	....	swing
Michael Mullen	....	prop assistant
Morgan Runyon	....	set dresser/swing
Daniel Sterling	....	visual designer: software
Brad Vancata	....	production illustrator
Andy Hammer	....	scenic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jane Boegel	....	dialogue editor
Dave Davenport	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Ellerd	....	sound editor
Patrick Giraudi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Grzesik	....	sound mixer
Sara Hankins	....	post audio coordinator
Stuart Martin	....	sound editor
Stuart Martin	....	supervising sound editor
Gus Medina	....	foley mixer
Dale W. Perry	....	foley artist (as Dale Perry)
Andy Potvin	....	stereo consultant: Dolby
Richard Taylor	....	supervising sound editor
Gerard Vernice	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Dave Bannister	....	visual effects assistant
Rufus Blackwell	....	visual effects assistant
Josh King	....	visual effects producer: Rushes Post Production
Duncan Malcolm	....	visual effects artist
Jean-Clement Soret	....	digital colorist
Leo Wilson	....	visual effects assistant
Matthew Lawrence	....	digital effects artist: Rushes Postproduction Ltd (uncredited)

Stunts
Shane T. Anderson	....	stunt double: Jeff (as Shane Anderson)
Erick Brennan	....	stunt coordinator (as Erick C. Brennan)
Robert Garrigus	....	stunt rigger (as Bob Garrigus)
Steve Tripplett	....	stunt rigger (as Steve Triplett)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Badger	....	grip
Matt Baker	....	first assistant camera
Walt Bithell	....	gaffer (as Walter Bithell)
Richard W. Botchlet	....	grip (as Richard Botchlet)
Roger Chingirian	....	electrician
Helen Chough	....	time-lapse photographer
Todd Csernecky	....	electrician
John DeFazio	....	grip
Michael Druez	....	best boy grip
Manu Gargi	....	vtr operator
Paul Goldhammer	....	best boy electric
Shelly Gurzi	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Orlando Hernandez	....	electrician
Dan Kanes	....	grip
Jeffrey Kelly	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jacob Knight	....	grip
Geoffrey D. Knoller	....	key grip
Andrew Korner	....	electrician
Matt Kubas	....	electrician (as Matthew Kubas)
Mark Lowry	....	still photographer
Paul Lyons	....	electrician
Jason McCormick	....	second assistant camera
Erik Messerschmidt	....	electrician
Ye Rin Mok	....	still photographer: Jeff's photos
Mike Morales	....	grip
Michael Piekutowski	....	grip (as Mike Piekutowski)
Sarah Remetch	....	camera loader
Eric Schilling	....	second assistant camera
Casey Sherrier	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Riley Sidore	....	electrician
Randy G. Singer	....	electrician (as Randy Singer)
David Starks	....	grip
Darryl St. Juste	....	electrician
Manny Tapia	....	electrician
Simon Thirlaway	....	electrician (as Simon Thirlawaw)
Joseph Thomsen	....	electrician
Forrest Thurman	....	camera operator: second unit
John Troxell	....	second assistant camera
Miles Wantabe	....	electrician
Daniel Ybarra	....	electrician
Kyle Young	....	grip

Casting Department
Jennifer Shapiro	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Xavier Franco	....	wardrobe assistant
Jennifer Johnson	....	wardrobe designer
Kristen Johnson	....	wardrobe assistant
Shadi Khastedai	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Kerri Aungle	....	film data manager: UK
Frank Berrios	....	colorist: dailies
Kennedy Dawson	....	digital transfer
Paul Hardcastle	....	first assistant editor
Julia Knight	....	second assistant editor
Colin Smith	....	engineer: high definition
Marilyn Sommer	....	film data manager: Los Angeles
Mauricio Tassara	....	colorist: dailies
Ken Van Deest	....	senior dailies colorist
Bruce Walker	....	engineer: high definition
Bob Wenokur	....	studio post-production representative (uncredited)

Music Department
Hans C. Ritter	....	music supervisor (as Hans Ritter)
Ronald J. Webb	....	music editor
Guy Worth	....	music recording engineer: live music

Transportation Department
Matthew Ballard	....	transportation coordinator
Shay Morgan Brook	....	driver (as Shay Brook)
Mark Garrett	....	driver
Guy J. Graves	....	driver
Anton Petreccia	....	driver
Cain Smead	....	camera bike driver
Elliott N. Whitton	....	driver

Other crew
Mark Ankner	....	assistant to producer
Christopher Curry Balonek	....	assistant to producer
Robert W. Barney	....	police officer
Mark Benson	....	deputy managing director: Moving Picture Company
Greg Bernstein	....	legal services (as Greg S. Bernstein)
Pilar Binyon	....	production coordinator: Vulcan Productions
Alexandra Blakely	....	set production assistant
Shea E. Butler	....	script supervisor (as Shea Butler)
Kendall J. Carter	....	fire safety advisor
Shirley Chapman	....	emergency medical technician
Imani Cheers	....	craft service
Marjorie Chodorov	....	production accountant
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance (as Carol Compton)
André Devantier	....	caterer (as Andre Devantier)
Todd Dividivich	....	executive producer: RIOT
Alex Dorn	....	double: Huevos
Karin Elkholti	....	stand-in: Jeff
Ruben Garza	....	security officer
Alisa Gentry	....	emergency medical technician
Deborah Giovenco	....	stand-in: Hayley
Matthew Greene	....	software director
Karen Hashmi	....	production accountant: Vulcan Productions
Jason J. Hunke	....	publicity: Vulcan Productions (as Jason Hunke)
Lisa R. Hurlbert	....	risk management
Jose Jauregui	....	security officer
Sherman Kaplan	....	immigration attorney (as Sherman I. Kaplan)
Miki Kato	....	title designer
Erin Kraft	....	photo double: Donna Mauer
Luis Marquez	....	park ranger
Donna Mayhew	....	park ranger
Matt McClain	....	dailies assistant (as Matty McClain)
George McDowell Agnew	....	location consultant (as George Agnew)
Kathleen McInnis	....	unit publicist
Richard McMillan	....	location manager
Geof Miller	....	development consultant
Jeff Moeller	....	office production assistant
Marcos 'Luke' Montes	....	security officer
Matt Moran	....	night operations manager: RIOT
Luis Moreno	....	caterer
Michael Nank	....	publicity: Vulcan Productions
Steve Olsen	....	remote technician
Dylan Osborn	....	intern
Juan Pacheco	....	catering assistant
William I. Page	....	police officer (as William L. Page)
Carla Pagi	....	producer: RIOT
Joe Pantoja	....	security officer (as Joe A. Pantoja)
Antonio Payan	....	catering assistant
Presley	....	production dog
Joshua Radabaugh	....	intern (as Josh Radabaugh)
Mark Reaser	....	dailies assistant
Chris Reney	....	emergency medical technician
Owyn Richen	....	software designer
Omar Shahed	....	security officer
Jessica Simmons	....	craft service
Efrain Trujillo	....	caterer
Ken Van Deest	....	senior dailies supervisor
Justin Velo	....	software visual designer
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	production coordinator
Clarence Webb	....	security officer
Shawn Whiteman	....	dailies assistant
Jimmy Zamora	....	security officer

Thanks
Bob Adler	....	thanks
Scotty Bergstein	....	thanks
Allison Binder	....	thanks
Rob Carlson	....	thanks
Jules Daly	....	thanks (as Jules Daley)
Jonathan Davis	....	thanks
Joshua Deighton	....	thanks (as Josh Deighton)
Emmerson Denney	....	thanks (as Emmerson Denny)
Cassian Elwes	....	thanks
Michael Gendler	....	thanks
Rick Genow	....	thanks
Youree Henley	....	thanks
Angelique Higgins	....	thanks
Craig Kestel	....	thanks
Phyllis Koenig	....	thanks
Walter Latham	....	thanks
Eunice Lee	....	thanks
Preston Lee	....	thanks
Fran McGivern	....	thanks
Brent Morris	....	thanks
Keith Redmon	....	thanks
Melissa Reid	....	thanks
Rena Ronson	....	thanks
Tony Scott	....	thanks
Sam Sneade	....	thanks
Doug Stone	....	thanks
Jonathan Westover	....	thanks
Jason Woodruff	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Vulcan Productions
• Launchpad Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• 1More Film (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Aurum Films (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2007) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Icon Productions (2005-????) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Hollydan Works (2006) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (all media)
• Redbus Film Distribution (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Rushes Post Production (titles)

Other Companies

• Area 51 Films  thanks
• Axium International  payroll services
• Cinelease  grip and lighting equipment
• F-Stop Film & Video  end titles (as F-Stop Inc.)
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• IndieClear  script clearance
• J.L. Fisher  camera dolly
• Kallista Marketing & PR  international publicity
• Momoco/Maguffin  main title sequence
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• RSA Films  thanks
• Riot  video dailies
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Shades of Light Studios  thanks
• Speade  off-line facility
• St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company  insurance
• Studio Services  truck rental
• Technicolor Sound Services  audio post
• US Computamatch  film data management
• Virtualmix  sound re-recording
• Writers Guild of America (WGA)  special thanks

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | China:(Banned) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Indonesia:Dewasa | Philippines:R-18 | Taiwan:R-18 | Sweden:15 | France:-16 | Hungary:18 | Brazil:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Romania:I.C.-14 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R (certificate #41243) | Japan:R-15 | Chile:18 | Italy:VM18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Arclight Cinemas - 6360 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Vulcan Productions

Trivia:

According to actress Ellen Page, the iconic red hooded shirt used in the movie and on the posters was, in fact, orange. The color was changed in post-production.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Hayley uses the stun gun on Jeff in the shower, they're both under the water stream so she would have been zapped as well.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in Creating 'Hard Candy' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Elephant Woman

The whole is much less than sum of all parts

There is something wrong with Hard Candy.

The acting was solid, the direction was intelligent, the script was intense, and the topic is controversial. All these elements, however, didn't quite converge to something that was coherent and compelling. It lacks the premise, credibility, and balance that any good film should process. This may be a result of difference of expectations that originate from the actors, the director, the writer and the audience.

Let's start with us, the viewers. Despite the topic, I believe "Hard Candy" is simply a film that entails a two-hour power struggle between two individuals. Pedophilia set the plot in motion, but did not tightly define the roles, which were purposely left ambiguous from beginning to end. No one knows if Jeff is really a child molester, and Hayley may either be a vigilante or a psychopath. The shift in physical and psychological domination between the two should have been our interest. Instead, our judgment on the characters were tainted, either as a result of the controversial topic, or by the Liongate marketing department. So, when the film started, we already charged Jeff guilty of pedophilia.

This could have been compensated with a strong screenplay. However, Nelson managed to ignore natural and reasonable character development in the script. He did so mostly to strengthen Hayley's character. In the end, Hayley became the preacher, and Jeff the violated alter boy. Hayley's lines consisted mostly of monologues on quoting national statistics and degradation of social morals. Jeff, on the other hand, was only allowed to utter incomprehensible verbal jabs when Hailey takes a break from one of her soliloquies, provided that he wasn't on a gag. Maybe working with such a controversial topic, one has to play the party line to what is politically correct. Nelson really wanted the audience to be on Hayley's side, regardless how sinister her character is, but this does not justify a totally lob-sided screenplay.

And the acting amplified the imbalance of the roles. Page and Wilson are no stranger to acting. I think their performance stand very well on their own, especially considering how little Wilson has to work with in his portrayal of Jeff. The disparity between the two characters made their efforts futile in salvaging the script. Page, convicted and energetic, dominated every scene in the film, whether she was in or not. On the other hand, Wilson, being tied up and gagged for most of the film, was reduced to acting scared. Sandra Oh's brief appearance was a reminder how contrived the whole film has become.

Finally, there was the direction. Spade's background in directing commercials clearly showed. Most of the scenes are static, and transitions were limited to fade-in, fade-out, and panning across a black wall. He also had the propensity of using bright color everywhere. He certainly knows how to capture my attention for 15 seconds, but I felt comfortable after prolonged exposure. To his credit, he had made the best out of what he had to work with, namely, a lob-sided plot line, a minimal head count, and a confined space.

In summary, Hard Candy started with a good premise, good casting, good direction and a keen audience. Page and Spade could chalk one up for this film, but the film itself has failed to become bigger than the sum of its parts.