Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Never Take Candy from a Stranger Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 30, 2021

This Blu-ray release of 'Never Take Candy from a Stranger' can be found in a two-film bundle with 'Scream of Fear.' The two films are also included in the Hammer Ultimate Collection. There, they feature a different audio encode (that yields the same results) and identical video. Both films include commentary tracks there that are not included here.

This fictitious film takes place in Canada, but the film warns that its story could play out anywhere, at any time, to anyone. The film opens with an elderly man, Mr. Olderberry (Bill Nagy), nervously spying on a couple of girls playing on a swing, including Jean Carter (Janina Faye), daughter of Peter (Patrick Allen) and Sally (Gwen Watford). One evening, Jean shares a disturbing story that Mr. Olderberry offered her, and her friend, candy in exchange for stripping out of their clothes, which they gladly did; it’s right to pay heed to an adult, after all. Or so they beleive. Her parents are shocked, but Jean seems undisturbed by the incident. Peter and Sally argue back and forth about how to handle the situation, but when Jean wakes up screaming, terrified that the man is in her room, they take the charges to the local authorities. However, they run into resistance throughout town. The Olderberry family ties run deep in the town, which buys the man a lot of leeway with the law, even as everyone is familiar with his perversions and persuasions.

It's difficult to say whether the accusations or the lack of cooperation from the townspeople and the law are the more disturbing matter at the heart of Never Take Candy from a Stranger. Obviously it's the crime itself that is most damaging, and while the film speaks against it, it also tells a story of a town that's not in the mood for a fight, that would rather look away than confront something so terrible and so directly. The Carters are new in town, and Olderberry's perversions are a poorly kept secret. The Carters don't know that, and neither do they care. They rightly seek answers and justice but find resistance at every turn. The film's double-fisted gut punch -- the deplorable actions taken against young Jean and the quickly erecting brick walls the family run into at every turn -- make this a difficult movie to take in stride. It's emotionally dark and draining but it's also well acted and tightly scripted, particularly as the film transitions from the exploratory first act and into the court room dramatics later in the film.

Never Take Candy from a Stranger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This Blu-ray disc appears to contain the same transfer used for the Hammer Collection. For a full video review, please click here.

Never Take Candy from a Stranger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though this edition features an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack and the presentation from the 20-film Hammer bundle includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack, one would be hard-pressed to notice any significant differences. Several A-B comparisons revealed no tangible alterations to any element. The review of the presentation from the Hammer collection suffices here.

Never Take Candy from a Stranger Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Hammer Collection release includes an audio commentary track which is sadly missing here. No other extras are included, either.

Never Take Candy from a Stranger Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

With no significant video or audio alterations fans of this film, but not the others in the Hammer Collection, can purchase with confidence understanding that this release is missing a commentary track.