Hard Candy

In the film In the Trap, I primarily see it as a chilling, psychological thriller based on the outstanding performance of the two main actors. Patrick Wilson convinced me once again after the film Little Children and the series Angels in America that he is a versatile actor, and Ellen Page confirms that she belongs among the greatest talents of her generation. I was intrigued by the occasional clip-like shots of more action-packed scenes and some masterful dialogues. I admit that I felt sorry for P.Wilson's character for a long time and at one point sympathized with him from a male perspective. The only flaw I see is in the slightly over-the-top and confused screenplay. (20/05/2009)

The educational appeal with an upraised index finger about meeting strangers from the chat room is still palatable. Yet from the moment the game of self-appointed prosecutor, judge, and executioner begins, which is supposed to be a form of satisfaction for all the abused children, the film becomes a disgusting construct. Logic takes a break and the director relies solely on a cinematographer with a penchant for filters and blurring. However, that's nothing compared to the lady named Ellen Page. At (then) eighteen, she certainly doesn't look fourteen, but her annoying nature trumps even the most annoying brats from all corners of cinema. The only functional scene is the ending on the roof (emotions, logic, credibility), which is definitely not enough for a 100-minute film. (06/09/2007)

Too cold and contrived for my taste. Wilson could have saved himself so many times, only to end up falling for a screenwriter who is clearly a first rate feminist and has endowed Ellen Page with a literal sixth sense. Physically, moreover, the film lacks intensity, and while I felt the increasing psychological pressure with discomfort, it seemed unnecessarily dampened at times by the overblown and unreliable script. That said, there are plenty of positives, from the performances of both actors to the climax, where the overly ambitious plot was concluded with a surprisingly ingenious and disturbing twist, just as it could be expected from a similarly intimate moral thriller. (09/02/2016)

A great thriller with a unique premise and excellent performances by Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson. As a representative of the male gender, I sympathized with the main character and Wilson's expressions and behavior were convincing in the delicate situation. Then, of course, there is the unstable, perverted Page, whom I would have readily believed had escaped from a mental institution. The film could have been shorter (about 80 minutes), but otherwise pretty good. (11/02/2010)

Two stars for Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page. The story was absolutely flat and didn’t deviate an inch from its set course, so there wasn’t much in the way of an actual plot. You don’t get to learn much about the main characters either, apart from their age difference. Moreover, both of them were driving me nuts. Halfway into the film, I started hoping for a gas explosion that would put a premature end to the story. I somehow made it to the ending and now I’m wondering what the film was trying to say. That pedophilia is bad? I don’t think this was the best way to do that. (11/12/2016)