Let the Right One In

This is a fantastic film about a young boy called Oskar who befriends a young girl called Eli. However all is not as it seems. This is artfully directed, full of depth and drama and hugely entertaining. There are bullies and a mysterious killer to contend with and as Oskar falls in love he makes a startling discovery about Eli, she’s a vampire.

Let The Right One In is a Swedish film and so the action is subtitled but you can’t let that stop you from seeing what is a chilling, inventive and extremely charming film. It is directed by the talented Tomas Alfredson and the action unfolds at a gentle pace. The story is based on a successful book by John Ajvide Lindqvist and there are strong elements of drama and romance as well as some terrific horror.

Oskar is having a tough time, he gets bullied at school by a cruel kid and his two henchmen, his mother and father seem to have had an acrimonious divorce and no one has time for him. One night as he plays in the snow covered courtyard next to his apartment building he meets a mysterious young girl called Eli. She seems to find him intriguing and the feeling is mutual. The two strike up a friendship which soon develops further and their shared status as outsiders is the main reason.

Meanwhile the man who lives with Eli is roaming the city searching for victims that he can kill and drain in order to provide her with blood. Her insatiable thirst is an obvious problem and since she is stuck with the appearance of a child she is unable to fend for herself. As things come to a head for Oskar and Eli their relationship holds them together and despite their deplorable actions you can’t help rooting for them both.

This is a completely new take on the vampire genre and it is seriously refreshing after so many years of Lost Boy and Buffy inspired teen vampire adventures. The idea is original, the script and direction are terrific and while it is slow paced at times this is a captivating film from start to finish.

One of the reasons it works so well is the cast. The two child actors here are tremendous. Lina Leandersson is especially good as Eli and she gives a performance with real depth and emotional intensity. Kare Hedebrant is also excellent as Oskar and there are some good supporting roles as well.

This is really worth seeking out. It is touching and asks difficult questions about the nature of good and evil. While it works as a horror film and has a number of chilling and gory moments it also works as a drama and a romance and it should appeal to anyone who appreciates originality. It is inevitable that they are going to remake this but it would be very surprising if it worked as well as this does and I highly recommend you watch this version.