It’s probably a bad idea for most 14-year-old girls to pick up some sophisticated 30-something photographer online. But not for Hayley (Page), who arrives for their date armed with roofies and a scalpel to remove bits from her would-be molester.
Video director David Slade’s film is equal parts exploitation flick, female empowerment fable and My Dinner With Andre. Essentially a two-hander, Hard Candy rehearses all manner of arguments pertaining to paedophilia and vigilante justice through two brilliantly sharp, menacing performances from Ms. Page and Patrick Wilson. If anything, it’s a little too witty and articulate. While some teenage girls may well be bright enough to read medical manuals and biographies of Jean Seberg, Hayley seems too smart and resourceful by half.
Still, as an issue film and a monstrous piece of theatre, it couldn’t be more timely for the Irish market. You’ll be hearing squelching surgical noises in your head for days, especially if you own a set of testicles.