Let Me In

Posted In: My Soul To Take

Jessie Torralba says...

Let Me In Is Probably one of the Bigger surprises I've had this year. I', a HUGE Movie buff anymore and I got and see constant movies all year long. If it crosses my mind to see it sometime chances are I will. Let Me In was one of the movie I had no one to go with me so I just went myself. I went and saw the movie expecting good things because Let The Right One In Was in essence a good film. But Let Me Tell You. I was literally blown away, by the feel of this film. Crawling back to the theatre a couple times to see it again. (Yeah it's that good) THe Two Lead Roles (Owen And Abby) are delivered by Chloe And Schmitt is such a flawless way that you would expect them to have been acting for longer than a decade. The feel of the movie leaves you hopeful and touched. Even a heart of stone would soften a little for this film. The Chemistry between Abby and Owen grows at a slow, but much needed rate during the film. And Even the silent parts in the film hit home. Watching their relationship blossom, ad watching the bloody exchanges as previewed only dd more much needed tension to the film, while avoiding certain elements that would mae the movie seem otherwise inaccessable to the mainstream Audience. Let Me In delievers powerful preformances and a Wonderous Storyline to be experienced again and again. Thewait for it to be a Jewel in my collection will be a long wait indeed.

Posted on September 14, 2010

Ardis Cynova says...

I would have to agree with a lot of the other viewers. I went to see this not knowing anything about this film, or the original for that matter, and was completely riveted to my seat. I couldn't believe how well these two young actors were able to translate emotion through very little action, whether it was Chloe Moretz'svery slight facial expressions (like when she says "I'm a lot stronger than you think." to Owen, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee), or the all too familiar (for me, anyway) bullying that poor Owen had to go through daily. I've seen many vampire and monster films in general, but I don't think I've ever felt sorry for the vampire. The pain and sadness emanating from both characters resonates pretty strongly throughout as you begin to learn a little more about them. The lack of a large cast, and more so, aside from Abby's "guardian", there is a distinct feeling that these two are completely alienated by those closest to them.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least a couple nominations for awards from this film. There are some very sincere and soft elements to this film, but it is also quite disturbing at the same time. This is an amazing film, and I'd suggest any fan of the monster-movie genre to see this, just try not to let the negative reviews from some critics preform an opinion for you. I went back to the theater a couple more times, thankfully, as it was only up for a few weeks around my area.

Posted on September 14, 2010

Nelia Riebow says...

After having first viewed the American release (Let Me In), I simply had to take a peek at the original Swedish version (Let The Right One In).I have to say, save for a few liberal moments, the American version was far superior.Of course, that could simply be a matter of perspective:If I had seen the Swedish version first, I might feel differently.That being said, I loved this film (Let Me In).Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Abby (Chloe Moretz) were outstanding.An instant vampire classic -- as entertaining as Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire and Bram Stoker's Dracula.Can't wait to see it again.Highly recommended.

Posted on September 15, 2010

Tinisha Limes says...

I have been and always will be a child of the 80s. So when I learned that not only was this movie taking place in that magical decade but also Chloe "Hit Girl" Moretz was playing the role of the vampire? I was more than a bit curious.



And I was pleasantly surprised!



A small, lonely boy in the midst of his parents messy divorce makes a new and unusual friend. His curiosity is first aroused by the girls preference of walking around at night with bare feet in the middle of winter. Also odd, his neighbors begin to disappear and the girl apparently has a taste for blood...even going so far as to lick it off the floor.



Chloe Moretz turns in yet another excellent performance as the troubled and lonely Vampire. But what thrilled me the most was how different it was from the current crop of bloodsucker movies. No bare chests, young men running around in short pants and other trappings of that Teeny Bopper garbage. What we have here is an deep and moving story with real feeling and actual emotion. The production values and art direction is excellent too.



I honestly thought Interview With the Vampire was going to be the last decent vampire movie but I am thrilled to be proven wrong.

Posted on September 15, 2010

Myong Drape says...

The Swedish film LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (based on the Swedish novel of the same name) was on my top ten list last year.It was creepy, heartbreaking, violent, original, stylish & very well acted.It tells the story of a deeply lonely young boy, bullied at school and torn between his divorced parents.At 12, he's right on the cusp of young manhood...but still he is lagging slightly behind his classmates and thus is a friendless target for some pretty significant abuse.A new tenant moves into the apartment next to his...and older, weary looking man and a girl about his age.



The two strike up a friendship when meeting to chat every night at the monkey bars by his apartment building.The boy, while sweet and quiet, also is barely masking an urge to inflict violence on his tormentors.The girl, while sad and mysterious, is drawn to her new neighbor.



We come to discover that the girl is a vampire and that the old man has been her companion for many years, and is her procurer of blood.When he is nearly discovered in action one night...a chain of events is set off that puts everyone in serious peril.



The story invites us to sympathize and root for an extremely wicked creature...and we do.The relationship that develops between the two youngsters (although we know the girl is hardly as young as she appears) is one of the most delicate and touching "young romances" we've ever seen...and we give ourselves over completely to their plight.



Why have I spent so much time describing a film that I'm not reviewing?Because the American remake, called LET ME IN, tells the exact same story and has much the same effect.Yet in the end, it is inferior to the original.



Both movies are roughly the same length.Yet the European original manages to have more plot points.For example, the boy (named Owen in America, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) travels to visit his father in the Swedish film, but never gets that far in the American.These scenes were critical to showing just how disconnected the boy feels.Also, the Swedish film introduces us to a whole network of unemployed friends, who hang out at local bars and take care of each other.It is one of their own who falls victim to the vampire, and one of this group that investigates the incident.The American film provides us with a fairly generic cop (Elias Koteas).



The Swedish film rarely relied on any special effects, but the American one uses CGI whenever we see the vampire attacking an adult victim.Sadly, it is very badly accomplished CGI...and makes what should have been some pretty disturbing scenes almost laughable.



But the American film does give us Chloe Moretz (KICK ASS) as Abby, the young vampire.She's an impressive young actor, and manages a very nice performance (as does Smit-McPhee).She carries a sadness, because she knows just how different and how WRONG she is.We can see these two, not as kindred spirits perhaps, but as two halves of a whole.



The American film takes place in 1983, in winter, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.It was filmed on location...BUT the location holds no resonance.It is just a generic, snowy, dreary small town.I'm glad they filmed the movie in my home state...but they could have filmed it anywhere with snow.



It sounds like I'm hugely criticizing the film...but in reality, if you've not seen the original, LET ME IN should be a pretty terrific movie-going experience.It takes the vampire genre and breathes new and very original life into it.It is well acted and emotionally satisfying.I wish the pace had sometimes been just a little bit faster...but overall, it is worthwhile.It is most assuredly not for children...because the children in this film are not exactly models of virtue.If I set the original production out of my mind, LET ME IN is a quiet but almost haunting little horror-romance that is unlike anything out of Hollywood in the last few years.

Posted on September 19, 2010

Twana Petrochello says...

"Let Me In" is every bit as unnerving, absorbing, tragic, touching, and compelling as "Let the Right One In," the 2008 Swedish horror film on which it's based. This is remarkable given all the ways it could have gone wrong, which is really an underhanded way of saying all the ways it could have been Americanized. The original film, and the novel on which it was based, was a vampire story in the strictest sense, but is wasn't a two-hour ordeal of tired vampire clich

Posted on September 20, 2010

Zane Mathurin says...

The Review:



Spoiler Alert- I've intentionally been vague in my description of events in the film and have endeavored not to discuss anything you couldn't glean from the theatrical preview.But nonetheless there's bound to be a spoiler or two in the following review.



Let Me In is the American remake of the Swedish Film, Let The Right One In, based on the bestselling novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist.With incredibly strong performances by Kodi Smit-McPhee and Clo

Posted on September 21, 2010

Doretta Horsfall says...

Let Me In is a movie with heart.You care for and about the characters.That doesn't sound unusual for a film, but this is a pre-teen vampire movie (rated R).You would assume that this movie would have characters out of comic books.Not so.The main characters played exceptionally by Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee will tug at your heart strings even though they are far from flawless 12 year olds.But they were both drew bad hands and they are trying to deal with their situations the best they can. What would you do?

Posted on September 24, 2010

Mercedes Dorado says...

Like many who were fortunate enough to see the the fantastic Swedish film, 'Let the Right One In' I was a little more than annoyed at Hollywood for allowing only a scant two years to pass before attempting to remake this film. If they were going to remake this film, they should have let at little more time pass by, especially since they were going to remake a film that was considered by fans and critics to be a masterpiece, and possibly one of the greatest horror films that has ever been made. Couldn't they have waitedanother 5, maybe 10 years so that the original could actually settle in and take its place in the pantheon of horror movie classics. No. Hollywood, in its incessant drive to horde as much money as possible, decided to commit sacrilege and go ahead with its' remake anyway.



However as the premiere for the movie approached, and the glowing reviews began to stream in, I was intrigued.Was it possible for 'Let Me In' to be in the same class as 'Let the Right One In?'Is the child actress from 'Kick Ass' really that great, and is the kid from 'The Road' really that affecting as Owen, the boy who is brutally bullied without impunity by his three tormentors.After seeing the film, I grudgingly have to say yes.



'Let Me In' is just as good a movie as 'Let the Right One In'. 'Let Me In' is very faithful to the original in many ways, but the new director, Matt Reeves, does inject some of his own vision into his adaptation of the brilliant book that this movie is based on. First, the violence and emotion in 'Let Me In' is a lot more visceral and aggressive than it was in the original film. Matt Reeves films most of his movie through closeups, and when a violent act is committed or a person is suffering emotionally, the film goer is impacted more forcefully. Chloe Moretz's(Hitgirl from Kickass) character in the film embodies this films aggression. She is the vampire who charms people with her 12 year old facade, but when she is hungry for blood, she morphs into a crazed killing machine. Abby kills without reservation because it is in her nature to do so. And when she kills in this film she freaking kills.She rips skin, she breaks bones, and emits a banshee like wail while doing the deed. There are more scenes in this film that illustrate this movie's more aggressive take on the source material than the original film, and this may offend some people. But the aggressive nature of this film appealed to a different side of my sensibility.



The great thing about both of these movies is the focus on the relationship that develops between two very lonely people. Abby, the vampire, is a 250 year old being who is trapped inside the body of a 12 year old girl.Owen, as I've stated above, is a 12 year boy who is mercilessly bullied at school, ignored by his mother, and is emotionally disconnected from his father. Abby and Owen suffer through an oppressive loneliness because of their respective situations.When they find each other on a cold night in a desolate town in New Mexico, a relationship between the two principles ensues.However, at the beginning, Abby enters into the relationship with caution, while Owen, who is so desperate for companionship, is frustrated by Abby's reluctance. Abby even warns Owen that they can't be friends at their relationship's inception. But after a while, Abby becomes intrigued by and then eventually begins to care for Owen and Owen for Abby. Abby and Owen develop an unbreakable bond, much to the dismay of Abby's "father" and they are soon bound to protect each other from harm. They provide a much needed companionship for each other, and they will protect their relationship at any cost, even if the continuation of their relationship calls for the sacrifice of the people who are in their lives. But when you're dealing with two lonely and suffering twelve year old kids, could you expect anything different?



The acting is great from all of the principle actors. Richard Jenkins and Elias Coteas each shine in their roles as the "father" and the cop who investigate the "ritual" murders taking place in the small town.But it is the two kids who create an indelible impact in the viewers mind. Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smith McPhee are both twelve years old, but their acting is so beyond their respective ages. Kodi Smith McPhee is amazing as Owen.His performance invites sympathy for his plight, but he also provides us with a glimpse of his character's potential as a future sociopath when he indulges in his fantasies of killing people, and creepily spies on the neighbors in his apartment complex.Chloe Moretz is equally effective as Abby, projecting sadness, innocence, world weariness, and craftiness through her characterization of Abby. Even the bullies who torment Owen are great, especially the leader who injects his character with a muscular brutality that his counterpart in the original film did not have. In the book, the main bully is written as someone who is quite capable of murder, and the boy who plays him in this film really gives you that impression.



So give this movie a chance.I promise that you won't regret it. It is so much better than the horror movies that the American public has to sit through now a days. This movie doesn't focus on devising creative ways for one person to inflict violence on another person(Saw and Hostel) as a means to create horror. "Let Me In" performs a study of horror based upon dysfunctional relationships, and the psychological damage that these relationships can inflict.The violence that takes place in the film is a necessary counterpart to the story, and a necessity for the main character, not a means for amusement. So when Abby does kill, you're not tempted to roll your eyes and groan because of absurdity. And it is not just Abby, every character in this film does what they do out of necessity, not gratuity.



Oh, and read the book that both films are based on.You will be thoroughly affected by the book.I guarantee it.

Posted on September 24, 2010

Rena Groman says...

Let Me In is one of the most beautiful films of the year, and probably the best remake that I have ever seen. It is based on the Swedish film, Let The Right One In, which was released two years ago to monumental acclaim from both critics and art-house audiences alike. This touching story, concerning a young man's crush on a 12 year old vampire named Eli, captured the hearts and minds of everyone who was lucky enough to see it. If Ingmar Bergman were to direct a vampire-themed film, it would look a lot like this. However, one should not think of the film as yet another entry into the recent "vampire" craze. It is much more than that. This is the film that Twilight only wishes that it could be.



The remake deviates structurally from the original, only in that the opening is a bit different, and a few minor characters have been altered or dropped altogether. The integrity of the storytelling remains intact, and as a result, much of the remake resembles the original in all of its snow-drenched glory.



Kodi Smit-McPhee plays Owen, a lonely young man who is constantly bullied at school in the most brutal fashion. He spends his evenings at home playing with knives, and spying on the attractive neighbor next door. In addition to these disturbing quirks, he has an almost addictive fondness for Now and Laters, and constantly eats the candy throughout the film. Chloe Moretz plays Abby, a young girl who moves in next door with a man that we initially assume is her father. The two meet on the playground one night, and bond over the intricacies of a Rubick's Cube. Soon, Owen develops a crush on his new friend, oblivious that Abby is really a vampire, and that her "dad" is in fact a serial killer, who creeps out into the night, stalking and killing random victims in order to bring buckets of blood back to Abby, in order that she will survive.



Meanwhile, an older cop tries to figure out who the mysterious killer is, as the bodies continue to surface. As far as Owen is concerned, the bullying still continues at school, but with a little advice from Abby, and a little bit of weight training, Owen realizes that he can stand up for himself in one of the film's most shocking - and darkly comic - sequences. It doesn't take long for Owen to realize who and what Abby really is. In all of his fright and confusion, he decides to stay by her side, and as a result, Abby vows to protect Owen in the only way that she knows how.



As I said, this is one of the best films of the year. Both of the leads deserve Oscar nominations for their layered performances. The cinematography is breathtaking. The score is beautiful, although there are moments in the film that could do without a background score. This is my only criticism of this otherwise perfect film. Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) has crafted a worthy tribute with Let Me In.



It is worth mentioning that this film is rated R, and while the film centers on two adolescents, it is not a film for the 12 and under crowd. It is much too disturbing at times, and the language is pretty rough. I would also encourage Twilighters to see the film, so that they may have a clear example of a film (Let Me In) and a product (Twilight).

Posted on October 1, 2010