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Last night I had the surreal opportunity to attend the premier of a short, beautiful and deeply disturbing independent film at the Fox Theater in downtown Atlanta. The Candy Shop is self-described as a fairytale about child sex exploitation and truly I can think of no better way to describe it.

As a low-budget, independent film it is quite excellent and I suspect it will get noticed when it is taken to the film festivals. The imagery is darkly picturesque, reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, giving the viewer a sense of foreboding amidst an otherwise pleasant outlook. The characters are superbly portrayed by a fine cast of actors. Of course, the most notable performance came from Doug Jones who brought the creepy, demented, and hauntingly familiar Candyman to life – instantly he is hated, and yet one gets a sense that underneath this character has his own tragic story that is, perhaps, not so far distant from our own. Brandon McCormick, the director of this film, has created a story that is a bit transparent for an allegory – but I believe this was intentional. The title tells us it is a story about child sex exploitation – we are never given the opportunity to truly believe that this is just a harmless fairytale – and when we see the delicious looking lollipops and our mouths begin to water it creates a disquieting sense of wrongness as we are pulled into the story. In no way is this film gratuitous, explicit, or graphic, yet the true horror of the issue comes through. This film is a triumph of storytelling.

It is tempting to say that this is a story about a bad man, who hurts children, and who ultimately gets his due. However, as I mulled it over, it became more and more apparent that this was not the Candyman's story; the idea is not simply to show us that evil exists. Rather, it is the story of the paperboy who first warily watches, and then with growing consternation realizes that something is wrong eventually being brought face-to-face with the reality of the issue and realizing that he no longer has the option of idly standing by. We, the viewer, take the same journey – so be warned! – I defy any sane-minded person to leave the theater without a sense of responsibility to take action.

What makes the film so utterly horrific is the knowledge that child sex slavery is not fiction. Nor is it something that only happens overseas in third-world countries. It is happening everywhere in the United States. Atlanta, Georgia is one of the largest hubs for child sex trafficking. And nearly half of perpetrators come from my neck of the woods, the suburbs north of Atlanta. These are OUR children! This is OUR issue!

Doug Jones said afterward that when he read the script he knew he wanted to be a part of the film, but that "the cause came with it." So it is with me, and so it will be, I truly hope, with you. Please support this film, as it is entered into the Atlanta Film Festival, and please become an abolitionist – you can visit stopthecandyshop.com or streetgrace.com for more information.

Original Review found at: http://ebdean.com/archives/221

Very well written and produced. Great dialect and metaphors.

I've been following WSMP since the great story of the Tin Man from Wizard of OZ "Heartless" (you will have to google that one); and they never fall short from their niche - which is to tell a great story!

My expectations were set really high on this film due to the trend that has been set with their previous films. I must say, although The Candy Shop is a bit controversial, the message is clear and the quality of the film is again, outstanding.

I give it another "bag of kudos" for WhiteStone. I look forward to more from this Georgia Based film company.

J. Philip - HIFI Communications

What a BRILLIANT way to make a PSA. Such a creative approach to show awareness of this horrible and haunting reality in the Atlanta Community.

I loved the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Theme...It really drew me in instantly!! This story touched me and brought me to tears.

I have known about this horrible victimizing problem in our Atlanta community for some time now and I am so pleased to see such a talented and bright production team bring light and attention to this horror.

I don't think anyone could of done it in a more captivating way. I loved the picture, script, talented actors,,,etc etc!!! Great job guys, GREAT JOB!

Whitestone Motion Pictures does it again. As with everything Whitestone does the production value is excellent. This is a great film about an important topic. Glad to see there is a motion picture company that's willing to develop a compelling story around important and often ignored issue. We went to the premier of the film with a 16 year old kid from our neighborhood who's 18 year old sister has been prostituting herself since she was 13. He left the film with a sense of responsibility that he like the boy in the film needed to rescue his sister from the evil that is in her life. I can only hope there are more films like this that help people look at issues we don't like to talk about.

I completely support what this group of inspiring filmmakers are up to. This film is so beautiful to watch - the production design, the costumes, the colours, the make up - each element works so well in telling the story. Each element has a defined purpose, and that's one of the many things that make this film so special.

You can just see the passion that went in to making this film. It's in the dialogue, the characters, and the overall metaphor. All executed so artistically. Doug Jones is sufficiently creepy, and Mattie Liptak as young Jimmy makes a role that could have been very cheesy, very heroic and believable. The production itself is outstanding, I think we could all learn a lot from these guys.

I can't sing the praises of Whitestone enough. I am a young filmmaker in Australia and I follow all their work and spread the word throughout my community here about them. Keep going guys, you're already making a huge difference in the world of film-making. Next stop, Oscars.

This film, The Candy Shop, is without a doubt a 10/10 film. It talks about child exploitation without diving into disturbing details. The story is touching, and impacting.

The film has a brilliant cinematic look to it. The CG is top-notch and the acting was equally good. This film has no flaws. It has the look of a Hollywood film.

It's great to see people raising awareness to slavery. It needs to be done, and these good people have done an incredible job. This film deserves a LOT more attention. Slavery is happening under our very noses and we don't even see it; films like this help raise awareness.

God bless the filmmakers!

A truly brave outing into a dark subject matter. Moments of excellence and enough jumps and tears to make this, in my mind, a classic. Doug Jones shines as always. If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman then this ones for you as it ticks all the boxes. I support the National Society for the Prottection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and this film covers the horrific reality of child trafficking without turning into a peace of study matter (although it should be studied closely). The director has taken a massive gamble with a taboo subject and pulled it off with flying colours. I hope this film reaches a wider audience and opens societies eyes to the reality of child abuse. I hope this review hasn't scared you off as I would recommend this film to everyone.

Alone the trailer for The Candy Shop left me sitting with my mouth open and shivers down my spine. A very touchy subject and a very brave and aware director with the name of Brandon McCormick just bursting to expose to a wide audience what is going on in HIS doorstep - I hoped it would pay off.

Doug Jones (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Legion) takes the role of the Candy Shop owner and makes the character so deliciously believably evil. Something is telling you STOP! But you just can't not enter the shop with him.

Only when the inquisitive Jimmy, played by Mattie Liptak, who watches the day to day goings on from his vantage point across the street gets involved does help seem to be at hand. Adults don't have time to get involved - it's not their business anyway.

A dark ending, yes, but so true to life.

This film needs the highest exposure, a masterpiece

Excellent video. Brings to the forefront the horrible problem we have in America of sex trafficking. Thanks to Whitestone for doing this. The music was great. the acting was superb. The story was hard to watch but told a story without being sexually explicit which made it tolerable for all viewers. We need wide distribution of this film for action from all parts of the country. I saw the inaugural viewing of this film in Atlanta with 4000 other people and it was a crowd pleaser as far as the professionalism it took to produce this film. I hope everyone in America has a chance to see it as soon as possible so they can initiate programs in their neighborhoods to stop this sorry crime that some sick people commit.

Whitestone Motion Pictures does it again, creating a 30 minute film packed with as much emotion and power as a feature-length film. The Candy Shop is an allegorical tale about child sex trafficking, and director Brandon McCormick handles the difficult subject matter with grace. The film is not preachy or overbearing, but rather makes its point candidly and simply.

Doug Jones is incredibly creepy as the shop owner, especially in the film's climax scene. Mattie Liptak does well as Jimmy, the protagonist. His friend Nancy is played by Abigail Monet, who does an incredible job portraying a street urchin.

The film is bolstered by Nick Kirk's score, and the beautiful darkness of the cinematography lends itself to presenting the subject matter somberly.