Review“You know, it's ok if you don't want to be my girlfriend. You don't have to make stuff up.” - OwenLet The Right One In has become something of a cult classic adding Sweden to the list of Countries producing excellent dark genre movies. Naturally, as day follows night, if a Country produces a classic horror flick then Hollywood simply has to remake that movie in a North American setting for North Americans unable to cope with either foreign cultures or heaven forbid subtitles. This time round we actually get a pretty good movie that completely failed at the North American box office and which looks to be under-performing Down Under as well. I'll revisit this concept later in the review as the Australian experience seems to mirror the North American. Interestingly enough Hammer Studios, yes that Hammer, had a leading hand in things which could explain why we got a decent movie without undue Hollywood interference lowering the tone. Owen is a typical North American twelve year old geek, he is withdrawn and the school bullies have him on their radar. Naturally Owen is showing some decided anti-social tendencies, what with having a love affair with knifes and their usage, which is probably not helped by his Mom who would probably be right at home having afternoon tea with Carrie White's mother. Owen also has a tendency to spy on his neighbours, so naturally notes a new family in the apartment block, a girl about his own age and her father. When Owen does meet the new girl, Abby, he discovers she can walk around in the snow in bare feet and has a strange relationship to her “father”. With the body count mounting, the Police get interested, and the bullies get sorted. Owen might just discover a few extra details about Abby that weren't readily apparent. There's so much happening in Let Me In that's it a pity it wasn't an original movie as we would be talking a classic rather than a retread over already existing ground with minor differences. Both Owen and Abby are wondrously androgynous, leading quite some credence to Abby's statement that she isn't a girl. Naturally a movie designed for Western English speaking nations didn't go quite as far as the Swedish original that pulled no punches here. But it's interesting that in amongst the male and female support cast both leads could be either male or female. In Abby's case it helps with the whole "other world" feel of the character. Let Me In moves at a slow sombre pace that seems somehow fitting for the subject matter, this is less about a vampire and more about the slow awakening of friendship, first love, and outsiders finding each other. Which isn't to say that we don't get the darker side of the vampire mythos, in fact Abby can be quite the little consumer when the mood takes her and a couple of the Hospital scenes do make you sit up and take notice. Self immolation by acid is pretty solid there on the gore stakes, and not something Hammer haven't had experience with before. Should also mention Abby shows Freddy a thing or two about pool side partying down. Overall Director Matt Reeves has managed to capture a Gothic look that seems somehow more than a horror movie yet a movie that doesn't deviate that much from the original. It's a mixed blessing, I really enjoyed Let Me In for what it was but thought the Director/Writer could have taken some more risks and gone just that little bit further than the original. The remake is almost like a fan tribute to Let The Right One In rather than being a stand alone statement about what the Director can do off his own bat. Of course Reeves is the Director of the less than wonderful Cloverfield (2008) and some episodes of, snigger, Felicity. Sounds like a gun for hire so not such a bad job when taken into that context. Without giving too much away on the vampire stakes, teehehehe, some of the creature effects were less than successful. The two vampire attacks were more mirth inducing than terrifying, albeit that you are wearing the contents of a bucket fill of pig's blood at the time. Kodi Smit-McPhee (Owen) was also the kid in the excellent The Road (2009) and once again delivers the bacon in a solid performance. And Chloe Moretz (Abby) is also kicking a few majors. Both child actors nail their roles and let this one flow. Just wanted to mention that. Before I forget, the “Now and Later” treat Owen seems partial to is a pretty cool motif, even to hiding the wrapping, but hey no Critic over here, so no deep thoughts. Also two thumbs up for the use of Bowie's “Let's Dance” whenever someone is listening to music; actually putting the album that track comes from on right here right now. Also got to say thanks for keeping in tack the vampire lore rather than having fracking sparkling vamps that suck something else rather than blood. Abby is a night time person, the one survivor of an Abby attack goes on the turn and up in flames when being exposed to sunlight. Abby can't enter a room without being invited, often wondered what would happen if a vampire did that. And the whole blood lust thing. Have to love a movie that doesn't display vamps as limp wristed emos. Well I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I really dug Let Me In. The movie was intelligent, built it's themes without distracting from the plot, and kept me far more entertained than I was expecting to be. If you can't bring yourself to watch a movie with subtitles then dial in here as you are getting a very solid remake. Pity even with the dummying down for the great unwashed that people are still choosing not to catch an intelligent horror movie. Let this one in, Hammer are back baby!
ScaryMinds Rates this movie as ... As remakes go this is pretty solid and worth checking out.
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