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- SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THING NICE? -

- HARD CANDY-

Hard Candy was Released in 2006 and Directed by David Slade (30 Days of Night) Under the Genre Drama/Thriller. Starring Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy is an uncomfortable film that deals with the subject of paedophilia, and it is written by David W Higgins. -

- SYNOPSIS -

The film opens with Hayley (Ellen Page) and Jeff (Patrick Wilson) talking to each other in a 'Teen' chat room on the Internet. As they type out their messages the conversation is gearing towards the sexual. Jeff is open about his age which is thirty two, but nonetheless he is obviously charming and expertly 'grooming' this fourteen year old girl. She in turn is flattered and inquisitive about this man who compliments and flatters her throughout the chat room session. They have been regularly chatting for a couple of weeks now and Hayley is beginning to relax and feel comfortable with Jeff, and she is innocently flirting and teasing him. They arrange to meet later that night for a coffee. He takes her out, feeds her, and generally shows her a good time, impressing her with his knowledge of current music. He also buys her a present, a green T-shirt. So, cleverly, he has gained her trust, taken her for a meal, impressed her with his money and made her feel totally at ease. He has completed his final stage of 'Grooming', and he invites her back to his rather impressive house, somewhere out of town.

Jeff is a photographer and he specialises in the photography of young girls. His walls are covered in large portraits of nubile teenage girls. Though tastefully shot, there is something morally wrong to see these blown up images hanging in the home of a thirty two year old man. Hayley is flirty and excited and she decides to make cocktails from what she can find in Jeff's fridge, saying she never accepts a drink that she hasn't prepared herself. Hayley is very talkative and suggestive. She is mature for her age, mentally and also very intelligent. As she sits on his large sofa in her red hooodie, her tiny frame looks so vulnerable, and I begin to sense the awful wrongness of this situation. Jeff seems charming but guarded, seemingly being careful not to let anything get out of hand, as they get drunk together on the cocktails that Hayley has prepared. -

- MY OPINION -

Well, this was never going to be an easy film to make. I can't think of too many films that touch on the subject of paedophilia. It's a bit of a grey area really, and I can't think

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