Let The Right One In: It's What Twilight Wasn't

I feel obligated to write this review (not I haven't written one in awhile) for two reasons. 1.) There's Twilight currently making the vampires as romance object, and 2.) they are remaking this movie. While I would like a better dubbed and/or subtitled version (I watched it with both as some lines made more sense in one form or the other), the remake is unnecessary.

Let The Right One In is set is snowy Sweden. Oskar doesn't have any friends, is isolated and misunderstood. Off the bat we know there is something violent in him, but he's not using it. Moving into the apartment nearby Oskar's is Eli, a young girl who lives with a middle-aged man. The two talk at night and develope a young romance. The movie is part coming-of-age in multiple ways. Eli is Oskar's friend, but also his exposure to violence and the opposite sex. But nothing is sugar-coated here.

Why is the film effective? It makes simple stuff work. When Eli moves in, her helper duct-tapes sheets over the windows. Her powers as a vampire remain subtle, but still in a creepy fashion. You have to be a kind soul to carry a kid out of the snow, which also makes you a good victim. No ability to read minds needed here.

Now I haven't gotten into the bullies yet, but while their threats might sound unbelievable, there a cold feeling they'll actually carry them out. I haven't mentioned the subtle hints at sex in the awkward ways kids interpret it (not like the sex we think of when we hear the word) and how it carries through to promise they only hurt the ones they love. I also haven't mentioned the open interpretations in Eli's helper, Oskar's divorced parents, or Eli's secrets.

But I don't want to. I don't want these things clarified or sugar-coated. It has been too long since a movie made me fear for the children and a remake will demand answers from these mysteries within the movie. If we have the answer, then doesn't it take us away from how horrific the question is? This is a vampire love story that isn't afraid to show the fear in loving what vampires truly are. The word "heroic" or "kind" doesn't come to mind.

Is it entertaining? Yes. If it isn't the vampire storyline, it's the bullies or the villages. All are compelling and one will certainly grab you.

Is it for everyone? Not kids, but yes. Be weary of violence towards young ones.

Is it memorable? Absolutely. Nothing cliche about it, and until the remake comes out, the open-ended questions will be a big topic.