Synopsis:
Hayley is a 14-year-old teen whose emotional maturity seems to betray her tender age. Jeff is a potential child predator whose intentions toward his young chat buddy seem less than honorable. After meeting in a coffeehouse and getting to know each other briefly in person, Jeff invites Haley back to his place, and it’s not long before Jeff’s underage guest is pouring drinks and posing provocatively for an impromptu photo shoot. As the evening’s questionable activities take a decidedly sordid slant and the raptorial Jeff appears poised to strike, a sudden turn of events finds that his apparent victim has had a plan of her own from the very beginning.

Rationale:
The film that launched the career of Ellen Page is a hard to watch film that seems like a darker version of Promising Young Woman’s premise. The first feature film by David Slade who would go on to direct 30 Days of Night.

Find out where you can watch Hard Candy here.

Alternative:

Jennifer’s Body

Synopsis:
When small town high-school student Jennifer is possessed by a hungry demon, she transitions from being “high-school evil” — gorgeous (and doesn’t she know it), stuck up and ultra-attitudinal — to the real deal: evil/evil. The glittering beauty becomes a pale and sickly creature jonesing for a meaty snack, and guys who never stood a chance with the heartless babe, take on new luster in the light of Jennifer’s insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, Jennifer’s lifelong best friend Needy, long relegated to living in Jennifer’s shadow, must step-up to protect the town’s young men, including her nerdy boyfriend.

Rationale:
A mis-marketed film that has developed a bit of a cult following the years since its release. Featuring a girl (or demon) getting revenge on those who had done her wrong, this is also directed by a woman in Karyn Kusama who would go on to direct the well received films The Invitation and Destroyer.

Find out where you can watch Jennifer’s Body here.

The Secret Garden (2020)