Let the Right One In (2008)

Help me...

It's a different kind of romance.

The Story: A young middle school outcast inadvertently befriends and falls in love with an old vampire in the form of a young girl. That's the basics. Below the surface of this vampiric coming of age tale, there lies an expertly crafted and meticulously pieced together story of survival.

The film has a dark moody atmosphere with a great set of characters. The originality of the story and strength of its art style is marred by it's sluggish pace, and lack of its secondary characters.

Despite it's flaws in the storytelling department, it is a refreshing take on the vampire genre. By that I mean there are no special vampire killing bullets or sunlight induced sparkling, there's no forbidden love, or buckets of blood. In fact it harkens back to classic vampire mythos. Sunlight kills them, the urge to feed is primal and the act is anything but sexual, and a vampire can't enter a house or living space without consent.

As I mentioned, before it's a little on the slower side. Don't be tricked into thinking this is about some vampire demon child terrorizing a small community, despite any trailers you might see. Some will find it fascinating, and won't mind the reading involved, others will find it boring and call it quits before the first bite.

The Cast:

Kåre Hedebrant ... Oskar
Lina Leandersson ... Eli

I'm not sure how well these two act, mostly because I don't speak the language. I will say this however, the physical performances feel rigid and restricted. Both children look uncomfortable on screen, intentional or not is beyond me, and it doesn't help the films aforementioned flaws.

One to Five Scale: 3

It's got a stiff art house feel with some strange sexual undertones, partnered with a slow pace, this one is for a very niche audience.

Tyler

7-24-10

11-30-10