This film for me is probably the most realistic portrayal of heroin addiction that I have seen. Yes Trainspotting is up there but this film beats it for me. Dan and Candy are a very in love couple and they are also addicted to heroin. The film follows them through their addiction starting with the good times when you are first addicted to each other as well as the drug and you still have some control and are enjoying it. Inevitably considering the theme of addiction things gradually get worse for them with Candy becoming a prostitute and Dan living off of his partner's money from "sleeping with men she hates". I'm not going to say any more about what happens except that Candy's deteriorating mental health also comes into play. Dan and Candy are played beautifully by Heath and Abbie. The writing is fantastic and I (as a recovering heroin addict) couldn't fault the flow of the deterioration with the relationships with family, friends and each other. Heath in particular was fantastic as Dan and really looked right with the greyish tinge to his skin and the not clean hair and dark eyes. Abbie looked too well to look like a true addict although I loved her acting especially towards the end. It's just a brilliant film that at times is a truly painful watch - it definitely took me back to painful memories - and I highly recommend it to anyone but especially fans of the late great Heath.
Review of Candy
