Let The Right One In
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Written by: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Starring: KÃ¥re Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson

Every year there are a handful of movies that come from out of nowhere and start to build considerable buzz based solely on word of mouth. These movies are usually the real deal because there is very little manufactured studio hype involved; it all stems from movie fans wanting to share a great cinematic experience with each other.

One of the most talked about movies throughout 2008 has been a Swedish film called Let The Right One In, which has been playing the festival circuit and gathering rave reviews everywhere it goes. One of the few Canadian screenings took place at the Toronto After Dark Festival this past weekend, and people were lined up around the block hoping to get a glimpse at this masterpiece. Did it live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

Tomas Alfredson’s Let The Right One In is most easily described as a vampire movie, and clearly vampires have been making a bit of a comeback lately what with HBO’s True Blood, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, and even the direct to video Lost Boys sequel all coming out this year. That said, what makes this movie so special is the fact that it’s a lot more than a simple genre exercise. Let The Right One In is a coming of age drama that just happens to have some horror and supernatural elements cleverly tied in. Unlike Twilight, however, this isn’t a story aimed at a teen audience, as it also comes with some dark moments of disturbing violence and gore spread throughout the film.

Oskar is a 12-year-old social misfit who doesn’t have many friends. He gets bullied at school, but secretly fantasizes about being able to fight back against his tormentors. Everything changes for him when he meets Eli, a young girl who lives in the same apartment complex as him and only seems to come out at night. They bond over their outsider status and slowly start to fall in love. As their relationship blossoms, the town where they live is plagued by a series of gruesome murders, and it’s made clear very early on that Eli is the one responsible for them (albeit indirectly, at first). As Oskar comes to this realization, he starts to gain confidence and eventually Eli helps him exact his revenge on his bullies.

One of the things that makes this movie work so well is the way that Eli’s vampirism is portrayed. First and foremost she is seen as a real girl, who just happens to have some mystery and an emotional distance about her. Most of the typical vampire cliches are thrown out the window, although they did have some clever twists on the mythology such as the fact that her “coffin” was actually just the bathtub with a blanket over top. A lot of the horror elements are downplayed, which makes for a much more believable (albeit less scary) film.

Subtlety is the name of the game here, something that I think will be hard to replicate in the U.S. remake that is going to be directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield). The movie is excruciatingly slow to start, almost to the point of alienating viewers, but once Eli’s true nature is revealed, you can’t help but be drawn into the story. The cinematography is beautiful without being showy, and the cold scenery is held in check by the many endearing, heart-warming moments that the movie delivers.

That’s not something you can say for a lot of horror movies, and indeed, I think the movie might come across a little too cute for some viewers, particularly those going in the hopes of seeing a more straightforward bloodbath. Personally I found it to be a pretty unique juxtaposition. Tomas Alfredson maintains a delicate balance throughout the film, although ultimately I think the emotional impact may have been muted a bit by the understated performances and the cartoony ending. I count myself among the people who found the ending somewhat unsatisfying; this, along with an earlier scene involving a group of badly CG-ed cats, are really the only glaring flaws that didn’t quite mesh with the rest of the flick.

There’s no debating the fact that Let The Right One In is a movie unlike any other you are likely to see this year. Disturbing images of the young, innocent Eli with blood running down her chin will remain with you long afterward, but it’s Oskar’s journey of self-discovery that is the true triumph here. The subtitles and the slow pace will likely keep this movie from reaching most mainstream viewers, but for those who are a little more adventurous, it offers a rich and rewarding experience for both horror fans and non-fans alike. — Sean

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Recommended If You Like: Show Me Love, The Lost Boys, Interview with the Vampire

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