Entertainment
2000s Psychological Thriller Turns Hunted Into The Hunter Streaming For Free
By Robert Scucci
| Published
There’s something just so satisfying about watching a child predator get what’s coming to him, and if you grew up taking a little too much pleasure in Chris Hansen saying his famous catchphrase, “why don’t you take a seat over there,” on his To Catch a Predator series, Hard Candy might just be the revenge flick you’re looking for. Always tense to the point where your toes curl up, but not without a dark sense of humor, Hard Candy turns a would-be victim of online grooming into the kind of vigilante that you’d never want to cross – even if you’re just an innocent bystander who happens to be completely unaware of what’s at stake – because she doesn’t have any time at all for your BS if you get in her way.
While I admit that it’s hard to have the stomach for films like Hard Candy, it wins serious points as an effective thriller for never once breaking the tension in a way that assures you that everything is going to be okay (spoiler alert: you’re gonna throw up).
Hayley And Jeff, A Match Made In Hell
Hard Candy spends a majority of its run-time focusing on Hayley (Elliot Page) and Jeff (Patrick Wilson)– the former being a well-read and endlessly curious 14-year-old girl, and the latter being the 32-year-old photographer who has been chatting with her online, eager to finally meet up. Hayley, who seems so sweet and innocent at first, suggests that they go back to Jeff’s place after meeting up at a cafe, while Jeff tries everything within his power to contain his excitement about bringing a minor home with him to do god knows what to her.
After surveying his house and getting the lay of the land, Hayley fixes drinks for herself and Jeff, and eggs him on to bust out his camera so he could engage in a photo shoot with her, just like he had done with other girl models her age in the past. Hard Candy shows its teeth when Jeff loses consciousness because Hayley drugged him, and has plans to torture him into admitting that he’s responsible for the disappearance of a local girl her age named Donna Mauer.
Hayley, though she’s barely a teenager, is wise beyond her years when it comes to the psychological games she plays with Jeff as he pleads for his life while she tears his place apart looking for evidence that would incriminate him in Donna’s missing persons case. Switching back and forth from sweet and gentle, to calculating and terrifying, Hayley is brought to life by Elliot Page in ways that will keep you up at night wondering what horrible things have happened to her in the past to make her finally snap and take matters into her own hands.
A Simple Game Of Cat And Mouse
Though Hard Candy’s narrative framework plays out like a Breaking Bad bottle episode with a bare-bones cast and simple setting, Patrick Wilson and Elliot Page’s performances are so electric that you can’t help but be enthralled from start to finish because of how emotionally conflicting (and draining) its premise actually is.
As a girl dad myself, I found myself rooting for Hayley the entire time because her treatment of Jeff is clearly coming from a dark place that no teenage girl should ever have to experience at this point in her life, leading me to believe that she’s right to subject Jeff to the torture he’s experiencing.
Conversely, Jeff has moments throughout Hard Candy when he comes off as a sympathetic character (because who wants to believe that Patrick Wilson is the bad guy?), leading you to believe that he might not be the predator we’re all assuming he is, and that Hayley is pursuing the wrong guy. The conflicting dynamic between Hayley the captor, and Jeff, the victim, never eases up, and you don’t get the payoff you’re looking for until the final 10 seconds of the film after over 100 minutes of escalation.
Not Easy To Watch, But Worth The Struggle
If you’re made squeamish by the kind of subject matter that Hard Candy so brazenly explores, this might not be the movie for you. But if you want to be pushed to your limit while watching the events that take place inside of Jeff’s home unfold, you’re in for a treat because there’s not a single moment of relief that this film has to offer.
As of this writing, you can stream Hard Candy for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
