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      Never Take Candy From a Stranger

      1960 1h 21m Drama List
      Reviews 73% 100+ Ratings Audience Score The parents of two girls take a pervert to court, but he lands an acquittal due to his prestige. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Creepy. Nov 4, 2016 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A startling drama. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 31, 2021 Full Review Sean Axmaker Seanax.com There's no sensationalism in the presentation and Cyril Frankel maintains a strong, serious attitude to the subject and to the drama. Apr 11, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A first-rate serious crime drama by, of all people, the sleazy Hammer studio. Rated: B May 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      brendan n Never Take Sweets from a Stranger is one Hammer film ahead of its time. Strong story that is backed by a strong unknown cast. The content is still topical today and showcases a largely ignored film that has been resurrected with a strong 1080 transfer by Indicator. Hammer may be well known for its horror schlock status but this drama/horror style reality story is incredible. The film was met with controversy at the time of release and fell into the abyss. Hammer is seeing a resurrection with Indicator and it's refreshing to find a film like Never Take Sweets from a Stranger. 18/03/2021 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Disturbing tale of a small Canadian town who willfully mitigates the actions of an elderly pedophile in its midst - all because of the man's family and its standing in the community. Straight ahead narrative that isn't played for shock - save maybe the tragic ending. Unlike any film of that era, with a deft touch of direction in terms of subject matter. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Very disturbing but true! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member A 1960s Hammer production that departed from their usual horror film for a more realistic type of horror, child sexual abuse. Instead of being about Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy or other various ghouls, this film follows the parents a girs who's fallen victim of a pedophile who also happens to be the small town's rich and powerful patriarch. The tone of the film is somewhat uneven, going between being an "message" picture in the first part of the film and being a suspense/horror story in the second half. Both elements are done effectively, but neither blends very well with the other. It's interesting that over 50 years later, this film this is a topic that rarely makes it onto film (outside of a being motivation for a revenge story) and still today has quite a creep factor to it. Even a recent film like "Hard Candy" still felt this same uniqueness of taking on a topic that few films do, though "Hard Candy" also had a pretty wicket twist to it. Cripstly photographed by regular Hammer cinematographer Freddie Francis this picture is overall a strong, if uneven, bit of film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A more than interesting smaller Hammer flick--Quite amazing and modern for 1960!! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Never Take Candy From a Stranger, is a very unique movie in many aspects, not to mention the delicate subject matter; paedophilia. From the legendary Hammer Film Productions, known for their english, colorful and characteristic horror movies from the late 1950s all through the 60s, they made this crime/thriller, set in Canada. What impresses me the most about this movie besides the daring plot is the superb direction by Cyril Frankel. You really get as shocked as the character, Jeans's mother after hearing the kid's revelations about their "games" with old Mr. Olderberry. It's gets really creepy towards the end as well, which qualifies this as one of the best movies in this genre I've ever seen from the 1960s. 9-year old Jean Carter and her friend, Lucille, are on the swings on a playground when Jean loses her candy money in the grass. After looking for it in vain Lucille tells her that she know an old man who always got candy for little girls... Jean later tells her mother about the "game" they had been playing earlier that day, and her mother, gobsmacked, decides to report it to the police. It turns out being a little bit more complicated then she first expected since the old man is the father of the biggest shot in town, and being newcomers in the town, the Carter-family is having lots of trouble getting any response from Lucille's parents or any credibility at all from the other people in the village. The whole thing gets more difficult since they got no proof for the accusation but Jean's testimony. Very good movie that deserves more attention. I owe a special thanks to Monsieur Rick for this! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Never Take Candy From a Stranger

      Never Take Candy From a Stranger (1960) Never Take Candy From a Stranger (1960) Never Take Candy From a Stranger (1960) Never Take Candy From a Stranger (1960) Never Take Candy From a Stranger (1960) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The parents of two girls take a pervert to court, but he lands an acquittal due to his prestige.
      Director
      Cyril Frankel
      Producer
      Michael Carreras
      Screenwriter
      John Hunter
      Production Co
      Hammer Film Productions
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Apr 6, 2010
      Runtime
      1h 21m