Ellen Page injects her whole self into this role, a prepubescent siren in Hayley Stark. Patrick Wilson plays Jeff, the clueless predator wannabe with unfortunate tendencies - a predication for the prepubescent. She drives the hunt, despite the fact that she very convincingly plays the victim.
The sexual implications hover beneath the flimsy surface, which holds the appearance of a perfectly innocent coupling - two friends hanging out. But we began with a nicely timed and executed instant messenger conversation which was anything but innocent. Subtext of serious illicit flirtation.
In a way, it's disgusting to watch him fawn over her. Whenever they are in public, he pretends his role is innocent. But he is transparent to them. To her. She has a surprise waiting. They both pretend that their relationship is not targeted at sex, but for her there is more going on.
She puts up with his plastic face, his sickeningly pretentious lie, which he uses to seduce her while seeming harmless.
"I am aware of the legal boundaries."
It is cat and mouse until the tables turn, and they switch places to continue the game. The story itself is very simple. However, there are some brilliant images - the look she gives him when she has him on the table, his helpless pleas, the comfortable ordinary way we see them together in the cafe - which is anything but an ordinary meeting.
She gets closer with him, letting the conversation evolve. She caresses, and masturbates his ego. She spikes his drink and he reveals too much about himself, about his truth.
He wakes up restrained. In a way the conversation becomes more intimate when he realises his helplessness. She is enjoying dismantling him, for the fun of it. She has two voices, her victim voice and her satire of the victim - the hunter voice. She has the control, the power, dominance over him.
He manipulated his online approach of her. He faked interest in obscure pop culture. She busts him. She lectures like an adult, while bringing the point to a close that he is a sexual predator and she is the wrong girl.
He keeps trying to control the situation, but she is not an amateur. Jeff lies on the mat while a fourteen year old girl cuts off his balls.
5 stars
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