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All movies seen on 09/23/2010

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Let Me In (2010)

Directed by Matt Reeves

Horror

Most recently watched by CaptainBigTime, ashe5k, eduardovictory, seanCduregger, sleestakk, noahphex

Overview

A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.  A remake of the movie “Let The Right One In” which was an adaptation of a book.

Rated R | Length 116 minutes

Actors

Kodi Smit-McPhee | Chloë Grace Moretz | Richard Jenkins | Elias Koteas | Sasha Barrese | Dylan Kenin | Dylan Minnette | Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak | Nicolai Dorian | Seth Adkins | Ritchie Coster | Cara Buono | Chris Browning | Rebekah Wiggins | Ashton Moio | Gwendolyn Apple | Brett DelBuono | Colin Moretz | Rowbie Orsatti | Brenda Wehle | Galen Hutchison | Dean Satriano | Deborah L. Mazor | Rachel Hroncich | Braden Wilcox

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

Based on a book of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist (sometimes also called Let the Right One In) and originally written in Swedish. Lindqvist also wrote the English translation of the book. Let the Right One In (2008) directed by Tomas Alfredson is up and away my favorite of the two movies. This fact does not mean that I did not love the movie, that would be an untrue statement.

Like many I am a big believer in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” especially with a movie that is so special, so moving, so game changing in the vampire genre. I loved the Reeve’s version and he properly and successfully made the best remake of a movie I have ever seen. That’s right, I said it, best remake ever.

What Let Me In does right, it does in ways that are shockingly real. The car crash scene is by far and away better than the original. The cinematographer, Greig Fraser, deserves every accolade he receives. Richard Jenkins, while in a small role, is amazing in his role as “father.” Elias Koteas’ character was not in the original movie, but as always he shared all he needed to with his eyes. But the major thing that Reeves got right was the choice of teen actors. These are definitely the actors of the future: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Moretz, and Dylan Minnette. Each one of them had insurmountable tasks ahead of them to match the majesty of Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, and Patrik Rydmark.

Meanwhile, we have the harsh reality that these two movies tell the same story, but for two wildly different audiences. However, just because I am not Swedish does not mean that I do not get it, nor does it mean that I necessarily want the polish that the English version provides. That is just it, polish. In Let the Right One In Oskar is poor living with his mother in a broken home and is tortured at school by the bully Conny. Oskar’s clothes and lack of thought for the snot dripping from his nose while talking to Eli in the courtyard evokes a realness to me I just did not get form Let Me In. Although Owen is poor he wears nice clothes that any kid of the 1980’s would have died for if they were poor. Izod and a nice down coat, how do I go back and time and get those for myself when I lived in ice planet Hoth? Everything was clean, well minus the blood. Where was the grit? Where was the visualization that says “life is dirty, deal with it.” In the end it seemed like Let Me In is just a shiny version of Let the Right One In.

I would recommend seeing Let Me In if you saw the original Let the Right One In, it may give you a different perspective on the original. However, if you have not seen Let the Right One In, I suggest you see the original first before seeing Let Me In. If you will be renting or purchasing Let the Right One In, be sure to get the proper release. On the back it says “Theatrical Subtitles,” because when the DVD was originally released they altered the subtitles for English audiences, for which there was a serious backlash from the fans. Within months there were new DVD’s with the original subtitles available for purchase.

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