darkreignn
If you're reading this, you know the basic premise of "Let Me In." If you DON'T, I recommend you immediately stop reading this and watch the movie blind, because I can only imagine that it would be the experience of a lifetime. For the rest of you, what will follow is my thoughts and analysis on what I consider to be one of the best films that I have ever had the pleasure of viewing."Let Me In," directed by Matt Reeves, stars Kody Smit-McPhee as Owen, a lonely, bullied 12-year-old boy. He goes through life with a mother who is implied to be fervent in her religious zeal, with a father who seems to never make an effort to visit him because of his hatred for his soon-to-be ex-wife, and with a group of three children who make it their daily goal to terrorize him as much as the law allows, and then some. What they do to Owen is virtually unforgivable, but luckily, a 12-year-old girl moves into the same apartment complex as Owen and gives him some potentially life-saving advice: when the bullies hit him, he needs to hit back harder.This girl, Abby, is played by Chloë Grace Moretz who, without a doubt, should have won an Oscar for her performance; she steals every single scene that she's in, and portrays a complex character who is equally lovable and terrifying - on one hand you feel for her, and on the other, you can see her manipulativeness, but whether or not she is being purposefully manipulative is a different discussion altogether. Going into this film, I expected mediocrity. I knew it was a vampire movie, and a remake, and that's all. I held off seeing it in theaters 8 years ago, mostly because I was 14 and too afraid to go watch a "horror" movie. But finally, watching this film at the ripe old age of 22, I've learned two things: 1) 14-year-old me was dumb af for not going to see this, and 2) "Let Me In" is much more than a horror film, and to classify it as such completely tarnishes the complexity and BEAUTY of the movie. Watch the trailer for this film. Go ahead, watch it, but ONLY after you watch the actual movie. Then watch the trailer and witness, right before your eyes, the butchering of one of the best love and coming-of-age dramas in recent years. And if for some unknown reason you liked the trailer, then I bet you didn't like the movie because the trailer portrays a movie that was never made. While the trailer markets the film as a straight up horror film, filled to the brim with all the little girl vampire action you could ever want, the actual movie is a slow-burn, meticulously planned, methodical love story, but is also, somehow, much more than that, too.You see, the meat of the film lies on the relationship between Owen and Abby - if the chemistry and acting is unbelievable, then as a result the film would be as well. But because both performers act in a very mature and human manner, the film is elevated well beyond what anyone would expect from a so-called "vampire" movie. The most interesting aspect of the film is how it handles the relationship between Abby and Owen. It is obvious that they have feelings for each other, and Owen, while horrified that the girl he feels love for has to rip open people's throats with her teeth to survive, clearly feels for her regardless. And I will admit, watching their friendship turn into something more, watching these two people develop feelings for each other, it was sweet, but underneath it all is a feeling of dread and hopelessness as the audience knows what will become of Owen if he continues his life with Abby in it. And to me, that is what's so brilliant about this film. At its core, it is a romance and coming-of-age tale about two children who are trying to figure themselves out in a world that constantly hands them cruelty. Abby and Owen need each other - that much is clear, and as much as a joy it is to watch them become friends, it also stings, knowing that Owen will most likely eventually be forced to do the same thing as Abby's previous caretaker: stalk, kidnap, and murder people, all to drain their blood so Abby can survive. What kind of a life is that to live? We see the misery in Abby's caretakers face, the pain and the anger, and we know that for years he has murdered a countless number of people so the girl he fell in love with can live. Owen may believe that he has found true love in Abby, but we know that the possibility exists that he will turn into the same miserable, angry, tired caretaker that will be forced to kill others so someone else may live. It's diabolical, really, but so thought provoking. But on the other hand, "Let Me In" is also a movie that teaches people to look beyond the surface. Let me explain: Abby obviously contains an evil side to her, as EVERYONE does. However, Abby's evil is a little more extreme. For example, while you or I might decide to shoplift or trick people out of money, Abby has to rip open people's throats to survive. If we saw someone do that, we would definitely be horrified, much as Owen at first is. The difference between us and Owen is, however, that Owen knows this evil doesn't define Abby. She does evil things, but she isn't evil. He understands this and looks past her evil actions to see who she really is as a whole, complete, complex person. And the film almost dares us to do the same. We see Owen's bullies as, well, evil, but then we see why one of them is the bully that he is. The film asks us, do we continue to demonize him, or will we feel bad for him, even as he continues to terrorize Owen? And at the end of the film, when the bullies reap what they have sowed, the film is almost mocking us in a way. Are we satisfied to see (or rather hear) these bullies getting ripped to shreds, or should we be like Owen is with Abby and look beyond their actions and into their core?"Let Me In" is a movie I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, and I watched it two weeks ago. It is a beautiful, thought-provoking, romantic, dramatic, and dark film that may have taken its place as number one among my favorite movies. Part drama, part romance, part coming-of-age tale, "Let Me In" is a film that asks its audience to question preconceived notions about evil and humanity, about love and romance, and about friendship. I urge you to watch this movie and let it change the way you think about life. - 10/10
mscwebsolutions
I do not post reviews usually. But this time, I have to as this movie raped the original one. I mean, this one is nothing but a pale copy of "Let the right one in". I bet America is lacking some materials, so they copy amazing movies (just like "Taxi", played in the US by the awful looking Queen Latifah), and turn them into flops... Actors do not know how to act, and the story line is completely the same as the original one. Watching this is a complete waste of time. Well nothing more to say, just avoid it. At least, stream the original with subtitles, which is way better than this one.I watched the original, with the original Swedish voices, and it sounds way deeper and better. I know some of you will feel the need to reply or hit the "not useful" button, but think about : if the original one was not made, at all, would you have this copy to watch ? I do not think so... The bullied kid and the girl vampire, well sounds great if it was not for a bad copy of a great movie. Oskar and Eli were two amazing actors, but the one in the copy are just as bad as the movie itself.
morrison-dylan-fan
When reading about the history of Hammer studios in the UK film mag The Dark Side I noticed a recurring theme on each attempt to revive the studio-the new owners bring out a "big" movie to bring attention to Hammer Horror returning,and then fail to match it (in terms of praise/box office) in their next two or three productions. Whilst having heard about the film when it came out at cinemas,I was not aware that the remake of Let the Right One In (which I've not yet seen!) was a "Hammer Horror" until I saw it mentioned in the BBC listings.Catching a lot of Hammer Horror during IMDb's Horror board October Challenge,I decided to let them in. The plot-The US:1980's Winter:Bullied at school and his divorcing parents having little interest in him,Owen tries to pass the time by spying on the neighbour. Looking in the telescope one night,Owen notices that a young girl and her dad have just moved in. Crossing paths with the girl, (who is walking in the snow barefoot) Owen learns that her name is Abby and asks if she would like to be friends.Accepting his offer,Abby starts to think about how she can hide something from Owen:That she is a vampire. View on the film:Gripping the cold snap seasonal setting of the title,writer/director Matt Reeves & cinematographer Greig Fraser step on the fresh blood snow in stark white lights that give the vampire tale an icy atmosphere. Aiming to keep the film grounded, Reeves sets an inconsistent tone with the special effects,via "practical" (done with under the roof CGI) sequences (backed by a hauntingly dour score from Michael Giacchino) such as a car crash being given an earthiness thanks to Reeves superbly held tracking shots,which are disappointingly undermined by rubbery vampire attacks and fire CGI that appear to have been rushed in post-production,and stand completely at odds with the mature nature of the film.Bringing John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel to the US in the 80's, Matt Reeves smartly uses the period setting to blend pop culture nods with a sharp allegorical theme under the surface,as the TV screens show Reagan making the "Evil empire" speech and putting good/evil in black and white terms,being a complete contrast to the "grey" areas of horror that Owen finds with Abby. For the outbreak of vampire feeding,Reeves keeps the horror linked to the heart felt relationship between Abby and Owen,whose slow-burn growth in their relationship allows Reeves to gradually peel the garlic of Abby's vampire life.Walking in the real snow barefoot (shivers!) the graceful Chloë Grace Moretz gives a mesmerising performance as Abby.Looking ill at ease over revealing the dark side of her life, Moretz sinks her teeth in Abby's wild animal vampire attacks,which are smoothly linked by Moretz to the ice breaking in Abby's romance with Owen.Joined by a terrific Richard Jenkins and Cara Buono, Kodi Smit- McPhee (who reunited with Reeves on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) gives an excellent performance as Owen.Beaten to a pulp by bullies,McPhee builds on the bruises of Owen with a striking sense of confidence lit by Owen's realisation that no one is simply good or evil,as Owen lets the right one in.
