Let Me In is a Breakthrough Horror Film (again…)
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Let Me In is exactly what the vampire horror genre needs – depth. This is a breakthrough film that incorporates horror, a coming of age theme and a chilling, yet tender love story. Director Tomas Alfredson accomplished this in his original 2008 Swedish version Let the Right One In and following remarkably in his footsteps is Writer-Director Matt Reeves who took it on for American audiences. Let Me In is a precisely cast and honorable remake.
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Up!
Written by BHM Editor Horror QueenOctober 1, 2010
Buy on Amazon
Release: October 1, 2010 (U.S. Theatrical)
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Written by: Matt Reeves (screenplay) and John Ajvide Lindgvist (Novel)
Starring:
Kodi Smit-McPhee as: Owen
Chloe Moretz as: Abby
Richard Jenkins as: The Father
Cara Buono as: Owen’s Mother
Elias Koteas as: The Policeman
It’s New Mexico in the tense 1980’s Reagan era. Owen’s an awkward little boy trying to cope with his parents’ recent divorce, an alcoholic mom and bullies pummeling him at school on a regular basis. Then he meets Abby, a beautiful yet haunting young girl who’s just moved into his apartment building with her father/guardian. Owen and Abby become fast friends and through her encouragement (and centuries of vampire wisdom) he finally learns to stand up for himself with the other boys. And that’s not the only affect Abby has on him.
These two characters are just twelve years old, yet their bond grows so quickly and powerfully that Owen overlooks what would send a more
mature boy running – the fact that Abby stands in the snow barefoot and�never gets cold, that she smells funny and never comes out in the light of day. Just as in the copy of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ he’s reading at school though, Owen’s heart is pure and his young love blind. It doesn’t hurt that talent oozes from Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) in these roles. Despite their ages, both have an ‘old soul’ quality about them.
Romantic, yes, but don’t worry. From the opening sequence, horror fans will appreciate the graphic blood shedding Let Me In has to offer. A few
scenes will stand out in your mind long after you leave the theatre – in particular one that takes place at an indoor swimming pool with Owen and�his school mates. I honestly didn’t believe Reeves could top the shock effect of this scene in the original Let the Right One In, but I was happily mistaken. There’s also a car crash shot from the inside of the car that is so real it will make you cringe in your seat. The CGI in Let Me In was not seen in the original film - the way Abby swiftly moves as she’s honing in for the kill – and the effect works well.
Let’s face it: vampire romanticism is nothing new (the Twilight series), and such films often include fated romances (remember David Bowie’s aging vampire-mate character in The Hunger?). But Let Me In is different, partly because it’s a multi-layered thoughtful and eerie film and partly because the characters are in fact so young. Even though she’s a cold-blooded killer, there’s something innocent about Abby whose guardian is normally the one to do her dirty work. Disturbing, yes. But even more so than it’s predecessor Let the Right One In, this film is a must-see for horror fans and will likely appeal to a wider audience as well.
Horror Queen Says: Bloody Thumbs Up!
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