The Candy Snatchers

THE CANDY SNATCHERS is among the proudest components to the druthers of 70s drive-in cinema, a smart, slick production that's well mechanized and laden with dodgy allure...a highly original exploitation mini-masterpiece, and a classic of its kind.

With a turbo-thrust pace, this nail-biter of a kidnapping/ransom story is steeped in noir, and presents three appallingly churlish amateur criminals intent on purloining a generous haul of diamonds from the shady stepfather of kidnapped young Candy(an appealing pubescent girlie who spends the entire film in various stages of bondage wearing a Catholic schoolgirl uniform). Plans run afoul, however, as the plot twists and shifts like a roller-coaster flying hot off its rails. A mute little boy is a key sideline character whose odd presence seems entirely superfluous until the unforgettable, head-smacking climax.

You do NOT want to miss this one.

8.5/10

16 year old Candy Philips (played by 21 year old Susan Sennett) is kidnapped by a group of psychos--Jessie (Tiffany Bolling), REAL sick Alan (Brad David) and Eddy (Vincent Martorano). They contact her father and demand jewels in return for her...but her dad won't do it. Things unravel completely from there. There's also a subplot about an autistic child being verbally and physically abused by his mom.

This is clearly not for everybody. it was a complete ripoff of "Last House on the Left" but it's much better than that film. "Last" was sick, disgusting and badly made. "Candy" is sick but not as vicious or cruel as "Last". Also it's MUCH better made. It has a good script with many twists and turns, all the acting is good (especially by Bolling and Martorano) and the last 10 minutes or so go barreling out of control. This is unique in there's not one likable character in it...even Candy got on my nerves! It's disturbing and sometimes brutal but a very good grindhouse film. I give it a 7.

S10 Rating: * * * * / * * * * * The Candy Snatchers is an interesting sort of film. On the surface is looks a bit like a standard movie-of-the-week thriller. It has 70's photography, 70's woka-woka music and so on. But the Candy Snatchers turns out to be a rather clever exploitation drama with a clever script. Three thugs hatch a foolproof scheme to get a briefcase full of diamonds by kidnapping a young schoolgirl and holding her for ransom. But the plan goes south when some unforeseen wrinkles appear. Even though the Candy Snatchers has a conventional feel to it the film is far from it. The director manages to make some good tension with the twists and turns of the thieves and Candy's plight. The acting is above average for this type of film. The thieves all have interesting personalities and most characters generate sympathy for them. The Candy Snatchers is a rare 70's treat that will satisfy exploitation fans and thriller fans alike.

"The Candy Snatchers" is a cheap film that is a bit better than I expected. It's also far sleazier and dark than I expected--and it is definitely not to everyone's taste!

The film begins with three losers kidnapping a high school girl named Candy. The plan is to force her father to give them jewels from his store in order to ransom her back to the safety of the family. The problem is that mom is a total drunk and the step-dad couldn't care less about the girl. Heck, if she dies, that just means more money for him! So, although they anticipate an easy and quick deal, the crooks have picked the wrong family and the film is a tiny bit reminiscent of "Ruthless People" but with absolutely no comedy whatsoever...in fact it's sort of an anti-comedy! Why do I say this? Well, it's a very sick and sleazy sort of film in which just about everyone is totally awful! There are two rapes (one of which is awfully brutal and graphic), child abuse, violence galore and an ending that is among the darkest and most nihilistic I've ever seen. It really isn't my sort of film, as it's just too dark-- but I can respect what the filmmakers made---a well-crafted cheapie film about some amazingly soul-less scum.

By the way, the IMDb summary says that the little kid is autistic. Perhaps, as he is not verbal, but he shows few other signs of autism--maintaining eye contact and interacting with the world in a very non-autistic manner. Now I am not saying he was normal and his family was certainly awful...but autistic...probably not.

This is one film that unfortunately seems to be doomed to obscurity. However, it is a goodie, albeit a nasty one. Poor Candy is kidnapped by three losers, who are involved with incest, drugs, murder, rape, and now kidnapping! This film is very lurid and sleazy (as many 'gone' '70's films were), yet has a great plot involving a number of fun twists, and is well acted. Parts of the film are clear precursors to Tarantino (ie Reservoir Dogs), and David Lynch (the idea of the family being the source of anxiety and horror). Little Sean's mother could have easily fitted into 'Twin Peaks'. Worth hunting this one out.