Candy Heart Heist is a competent and generally well-made short film about a turning point in a young woman’s life. A chance encounter with a bank robber sets her on a different path. It’s a well-scripted, slice-of-life film about how certain moments in life can cause us to change course. It’s also a generally well-acted short, at least from the leads.
The film, written and directed by veteran actor Dave Shecter, stars Scarlett Vaill as Amber. She steals candy from a local convenient store, and her parents don’t keep much of an eye on her. In fact, they barely pay attention to her. Amber also doesn’t appear to have many friends, and the only people she interacts with throughout the film are police officers, store customers, a street peddler, and the bank robber named Bradley, played by Shecter. Amber slips into a diner to evade the police after thieving the candy, and it’s there where she meets Bradley.
During the course of their conversation and perhaps the short’s strongest sequence, Bradley confesses to his misdeeds. Amber, meanwhile, admits that she sometimes steals candy and some money from her mother’s purse. Bradley warns such sins start small but then turn into larger habits. Obviously, he speaks from experience and also confesses that one of his robberies went awry and he shot a security officer. Ever since that ill-fated robbery, he can’t shake the consequences of his actions. His guilt is well-expressed and well-stated, and the dialogue between Amber and Bradley is quite well-scripted.
It’s fairly obvious how the short will end, including what fates will befall Amber and Bradley, but that doesn’t mean the short’s final minutes don’t work. It’s clear Schecter knew what he wanted to accomplish with this short, and he pulls it off. This is a slice-of-life morality tale of sorts, though it never feels preachy. It’s a well-made film with believable characters.
Candy Heart Heist is a compelling short film that elevates characterization in a small town setting. Shecter proves here that he has a knack for exploring character motivations, and his work isn’t without something to say. This film also forgoes the usual crime movie cliches to offer something fresh.
