Let the Right One In

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Let the Right One In

Monday, January 12, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... Mason Stillwell! The newest addition to We Rate Stuff's contributors, indie film fan, disliker of cheese, and reviewer extraordinaire! Now that you know him, check out what he has to say about the first coming-of-age vampire movie.

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Mason
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Movies

Reviewed by Mason Stillwell

Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)

Since its breakout success at the Tribeca Film Festival, Let The Right One In has been critically acclaimed. Needless to say, it went on to win the award for Best Narrative Feature. It has also received various other awards from all over the world, and has received a 97% from RottenTomatoes.com, as well as being voted #214 on the IMdb Top 250. After the Tribeca Film Festival, the rights were sold for seven figures to American-owned Hammer Films and Spitfire Pictures who are interested in making an engligh-language remake of Let The Right One In. Early speculation suggested that Cloverfield director, Matt Reeves, wanted to direct the remake. But the problem is that Let The Right One In does not need one.

Let The Right One In is a Swedish coming-of-age vampire tale set in the early 1980's that follows a young boy named Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), who is bullied by others day-to-day and never retaliates. Amongst living with his separated mother in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg, he eventually befriends a strange girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson), who's first words to Oskar are "I can't be your friend", spoken in the courtyard outside of the suburb, which becomes a common place for the two to get to know each other. The film is a truly poetic take on a young girl who does not want to do the things she does, but must to survive. Oskar begins to fall in love with who she is as a person, but is also too young to understand the dangers of the friendship. Oskar is able to put his feelings about what she has to do aside and just be accepting, all the while experiencing what may be his first feeling of true love. As the connection grows stronger between the two, Eli realizes that she must not get involved. The characters in this film are not just limited to Oskar and Eli; there's Eli's "father", whose sole purpose is not to provide for Eli, but make sure she has blood to drink so that she dosen't go on a kill crazy rampage for it, just like any good vampire dad would do, as well as Oskar's damaged relationship with his distant father, and the bullies who pick on Oskar. Let The Right One In is more than a horror movie; it is a story of love, fear, and acceptance, and an emotionally compelling, esoteric tale that grips you until its profound final seconds.

Let The Right One In is hauntingly affecting and is led by its brilliant storytelling, magnificent acting, and powerful cinematography, with camera work that boarders the line of pure genius. Do not be fooled -- Let The Right On In is not your average standardized vampire movie. It is an original piece of cinematic art.

Let the Right One In

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