"Let The Right One In" (2008)

Rating:  R:15

Genre:  Drama, Horror

Directed By: Tomas Alfredson

Written By: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Released: January 26^th, 2008

Runtime: 114 minutes

Studio: Magnet/Magnolia Pictures

Summary:

Oskar, a twelve-year-old boy being bullied at school, meets Eli, a girl who seems to be the same age. As the film progresses, both develop a close friendship. But in the meantime curious and slightly grisly deaths have been taking place around the area and it quickly becomes clear Eli has something to do with them…because she’s a vampire.

Review:

This is actually a really beautiful film. I suppose at first glance one could be excused for brandishing it off to the same shelf as Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series with the whole romanticising vampires trend. However, this is very much a darker story.

Most of the film takes place around the huge gray and quite oppressive apartment building that seems to just suck the life out of the residents who live there. The horror aspect of it is not necessarily the main focus, but rather, the development of the characters: more specifically, the relationship between Oskar and Eli. It’s fair to say that both are outsiders just trying to fit in somehow, trying to be normal. It’s a sweet romance, really. There’s something hugely innocent about their characters which makes their relationship throughout the movie more special.

I didn’t find this scary. Although, that’s not to say there weren’t moments I could have done without seeing! There’s an eeriness plausibly brought to the tale through the never changing weather: everywhere is covered in snow and the sky is almost always dark. The film is Swedish and so has subtitles…but you get over this.

As I say, this is a beautiful film and while I can see how it might not appeal to everyone, I would still say it’s worth a watch.

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