Elliot Page Shines In This Dark Psychological Thriller

Elliot Page's performance in the 2007 movie Hard Candy is one of their best, and the thriller tells a dark and disturbing story.

While Elliot Page is famous for starring on the popular Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, they gave an incredible performance in the 2005 psychological thriller Hard Candy. There's no getting away from the fact that the movie can be very uncomfortable to watch at times. While the subject matter is tough, that's the point. And the performances from the two lead actors, Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson, elevate the movie above standard indie fare.

Hard Candy might have flown under the radar when it was released. This is a shame because Elliot Page's unforgettable performance can't be ignored. What happens in Hard Candy and what makes it one of Page's best movies?

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The beginning of Hard Candy suggests a different movie than what ends up happening. Hayley Stark (Elliot Page) is 14 years old and talking online with Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson), a photographer who is much older at 32. After going to a cafe, they go back to his home. This is the first sign that something is wrong as there are pictures of young girls who aren't wearing much all around Jeff's home.

Hayley pretends that Jeff should photograph her, but she sneaks something into his drink, and he passes out. This is when the movie's smart plot twist happens. Hayley thinks that she knows the truth about who Jeff is: he's a pedophile who has harmed underage girls. She wants to get revenge and teach him a lesson. Hayley is most concerned about Donna Mauer, a girl in her town who was assaulted and killed, and she feels that Jeff had something to do with it. Before this moment, it was easy to guess that perhaps Jeff was going to abuse Hayley. But Hayley is the one in control. This shifts the expected power dynamic and makes it an underrated psychological thriller movie.

Horror fans are used to watching Patrick Wilson play Ed Warren in The Conjuring horror franchise. It's unnerving to see the actor as such a terrible and unlikable character. It's also proof of his talent and skills as an actor. There are points in Hard Candy when it seems like Jeff might be innocent. But the audience is meant to root for Hayley instead and understand her motivations. While the movie is definitely violent, and it can be uncomfortable to watch, Hard Candy proves that discussing this subject matter is important. Hayley is convinced that she is right, and that definitely seems to be the case.

In an interview with IGN.com, Wilson shared that it took just under 19 days to shoot Hard Candy. He said, "My wife was actually the one who, ultimately, told me to do it, 'cause it was just a different type of movie and a different type of character."

Elliot Page is great in The Umbrella Academy and has delivered an impressive performance in every single movie that they have been in. Hard Candy is definitely one of Page's best movies. Their performance is so awe-inspiring because Hayley is a character who is full of surprises. It's impossible to see anything that she does coming, and that allows the plot to keep moving forward.

Hayley is constantly tricking Jeff, from drugging him to pulling plastic wrap over his head and making sure that he passes out. Jeff spends much of Hard Candy tied to a chair. And while Hayley may only be 14 years old, she is always one step ahead of him. It's clear that she has been working on this plan for a long time.

While not widely considered one of the best 2000s directional debuts, Hard Candy is the first movie that David Slade directed. Slade worked on music videos beforehand. While Wilson does a good job as such an evil character, Page's performance stands out because they are portraying someone in a challenging situation. Hayley is so young, yet she seems to know exactly what she's doing.

Hard Candy ends in a deeply disturbing matter. Jeff says that he was there when someone assaulted and killed Donna Mauer and that she should hurt that man instead of him. Hayley tells Jeff that he needs to take his life. He falls off the roof of his house with a rope around his neck, and she heads away from his house.

It's hard to say that Hard Candy is a movie with an ending that is satisfying because it's so dark and bleak. At the same time, it would be tough to imagine what a better conclusion would be. Hard Candy doesn't shy away from discussing the difficult topic of assault, and the entire movie is impossible to look away from.

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Aya Tsintziras is a freelance writer who writes about TV, movies, and has a particular interest in the horror genre. She has a Political Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Journalism from Ryerson University. She loves coffee, reading, working out, and watching TV. She lives in Toronto.