Directed by Tomas Alfredson
Review based upon a theatrical preview in 2008
Over recent years the portrayal of vampirism on film has become more than a little clichéd. “Twilight” has attempted to reinvent the legend but with rather mixed success, moving the focus away from what is essentially a terrifying concept into something designed to appeal to the teenage market. “Let The Right One In” is not only the best vampire film in recent memory, but is more importantly one of the most striking and memorable horror films of the year.
Set in Sweden in 1981, the story focuses on Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), a12 year-old whose childhood challenges include a broken family, an alcoholic father, and some incredibly unpleasant abuse from a gang of bullies. Being the social misfit, Oskar is drawn to a new arrival in the apartment block where he lives; a girl called Eli (Lina Leandersson). Being the same age, the two of them strike up an awkward friendship that slowly blossoms into something much deeper.
But Eli is a vampire, entirely reliant on the mysterious Hakan (Per Ragnar), posing as her father to obtain the blood she needs to survive. When Hakan kills Jocke, one of the local drunks, his friends swear to find the killer at any cost. While Eli teaches Oskar to fight back against the bullies with potentially terrifying results, she is also forced to hunt for herself at the risk of Oskar learning her darkest secret…
With a screenplay adapted by John Ajvide Lindqvist from his original novel, and directed by relative newcomer Tomas Alfredson, “Let The Right One In” is at its heart a beautiful and haunting story of childhood that all of us can relate to. It is ultimately a tale about finding love and friendship in the darkest places, and through some wonderful moments that bring the characters to life, Lindqvist succeeds in making the violence even more shocking, heartbreaking and tense. Full of imaginative and impressive visuals as well as a unique
and brave portrayal of vampirism, this picture grabs the viewer by the throat and refuses to let go for the entire 2 hour running time.There are so many standout moments within “Let The Right One In”, it’s very hard to isolate key sequences at the exclusion of others. There is a fantastic scene where Eli asks Oskar if she can come into his flat, only to be teased by him into entering without an invitation. The result is not only unexpected but shocking and moving all at the same time, showing conclusively what might happen if a vampire ever tried to enter a building without permission. The capture of one character in a locker room is also beautifully shot; the screen split into two through the dividing wall, allowing the audience to witness the equal agonies of both antagonist and protagonist. Put simply, to witness such verve and originality in such a tried and tested sub-genre such as this, is without question no mean feat.
In terms of performances, this film is pitch perfect. The casting of Oskar and Eli is inspired; Alfredson bringing out the most astonishing performances from his two leads. It is very rare for a movie with such dark material to be so incredibly emotive, but that is exactly what “Let The Right One In” achieves. It does so by taking its time to develop the characters, the drama of the whole situation building gradually to a shocking and bloody conclusion. In a world of genre flicks littered with mindless gore, inconsistent plots and ham-fisted performances (which I admit, I also like), i
t is such a joy to discover a horror film that not only delivers scares and sumptuous visuals but also a truly cerebral experience where you care so much about the fate of these two children.Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is the fact that the ending is not only surprising, but also incredibly tense and gut-wrenching. It is rare these days to walk away from a horror film overwhelmed with a contradictory sense of happiness and sadness, but that is achieved perfectly here. As a result, it is one of those rare movies that you think about for days afterwards, whilst also pushing you to sit back and watch it all over again.
“Let The Right One In” is not only a wonderful example of the horror genre, but also of filmmaking in general. Brilliantly directed by Alfredson, it is without question the best horror film of 2008, and stands firmly rooted as one of the most exquisite cinematic experiences I have had in a long time. This is a challenging film due to the young nature of the cast, but it is one that will undoubtedly be hailed as a modern classic for years to come. After the likes of “Rovdyr [Manhunt]” and “Cold Prey”, it is evident that Scandinavia is producing some of the most interesting genre pieces in the world. If this is anything to go by, they will be doing so for a long time to come.
10 out of 10
An incredibly haunting vision of vampires, filled with heart and soul... a truly awe-inspiring experience
