Let The Right One In

PREMISE: In two words, vampire movie. But believe me, this movie a different from any other vampire movie you've ever seen. First of all, the original is in Swedish, so if you want to watch this movie, get used to reading subtitles, find a dubbed version, or learn to speak Swedish. Oskar is a bullied 12 year-old boy who lives with his mother in an apartment. A man and his daughter move in across the hall. One night, Oskar is outside and meets the girl, Eli (pronounced "Ellie"). They become friends. As plots advance, we discover that Eli is a vampire, and has been 12 for a very long time. Without giving too much more away, Oskar and Eli fall in love, with both of them making sacrifices for one another by the end of the film.

Being a vampire movie, there are some bloody scenes, but not nearly enough to discourage the squeamish from watching it. The stuff that Eli's "father" goes through to protect her also borderline on the gory, but the sense of devotion this shows creates a unique mood. Another interesting aspect is the relationship between Oskar and Eli.  Eli's arrival is a blessing of sorts, as she quickly becomes close to Oskar, and his confidence gets a boost. I loved the ending; even under the strange circumstances, it has a very positive feel to it.

The vampire mythology is well-preserved here. When Eli attempts to feed on a woman one night, she is interrupted and runs away. The woman starts to show all of the dependencies of a vampire, and then bursts into flames in the sunlight. Eli also cannot enter a home without being invited; this part of the mythology is often forgotten, and the consequences of entering uninvited is shown in one scene. She can also climb tall heights quickly, and in my favorite scene, it's implied that she is extremely strong and can fly.

Overall, this movie is very well-crafted. There is quite a bit of suspense, and the small action parts build even more on that. This movie is so great and unique. I take back what I said about this being a "vampire movie." I believe it's more of a great movie about strength and love, that just so happens to be about a vampire.

Let The Right One In: 8.0/10