I’m not particularly a fan of the horror genre as it goes but I thought i’d make an effort for the one day in the year when it’s okay to go out dressed in only a bed sheet. So I was racking my brain for horror movies i’ve seen and in all honesty, I was stumped. It occurred to me that my film knowledge ventures minimally into the horror side of things. Then I remembered i’d recently watched the Swedish romantic drama ‘Let The Right One In’ and what with the upcoming release of the American adaptation ‘Let Me In’ what better movie to review?
The film follows the character Oskar, a 12 year old boy who is a constant victim to bullying and dreams of revenge. The story is set in a sleepy suburb of Stockholm and starts with the arrival of a strange young girl of the same age called Eli moving into the apartment next door to Oskar and it is not long before he falls in love with this peculiar new companion. It becomes increasingly obvious that Eli is no ordinary girl- she shrugs off the sub zero temperatures, angers cats and not to mention she feeds on human blood. That’s right, she’s a vampire. I shant ruin it for you, but the unlikely duo’s relationship develops into something adorable and heartfelt, while Eli’s secret becomes slowly uncovered, endangering their blossoming friendship.
I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t this just a Swedish, slightly gorier version of Twilight?” but ‘Let The Right One In’ is far superior to the teen flick in so many ways. This movie does what Twilight aimed to do with much more panache, simplicity and with the absence of a ridiculous looking lead character. Apart from anything else, ‘Let The Right One In’ seems to be a far more realistic interpretation of how a vampire would survive in a society. Oh, and the vampires are not invincible and don’t have an endless list of unrealistic powers. Although it is aimed more at the older generation, it shows the desire and adoration of adolescence perfectly.
‘Let The Right One In’ will take you through an endless combination of emotions. From fear to fun and from love to loss, it has it all. The picturesque yet chilling setting creates a suiting backdrop for this unorthodox love story, with the small details such as the sound of the falling snow, the coded scratches and the heavy breathing in the freezing temperatures really making the movie what it is.
From the first lines uttered by Oskar- “Squeal like a pig. So, squeal.” you know this is going to be a movie of warped imaginations and strange happenings. However, what you get is far, far more: a troubled, bullied, vampire befriending young boy discovering what it means to love. ‘Let Me In’, the American remake most definitely has its work cut out.
