Let Me In Review

Rated R (Strong Bloody Horror Violence, Language and a Brief Sexual Situation)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 55 Minutes

Cast-

Kodi Smit-McPhee-Owen

Chloë Grace Moretz-Abby

Richard Jenkins-The Father

Elias Koteas-The Detective

Cara Buono-Owen's Mother

Sasha Barrese-Virginia

Dylan Kenin-Larry

Ritchie Coster-Mr. Zoric

Dylan Minnette-Kenny

Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak-Mark

Nicolai Dorian-Donald

Brett DelBuono-Kenny's Brother

Chris Browning-Jack

Directed by Matt Reeves

Chloë Grace Moretz stars in Matt Reeves' "Let Me In," a remake of the 2008 Swedish film "Let the Right One In."

Around the time of the release of the original “Twilight” in 2008, there was another vampire film in limited release called “Låt den Rätte Komma In” or translated “Let the Right One In,” based upon the 2004 novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The Swedish film received widespread critical acclaim due to its effective blend of ‘scares with intelligent storytelling’ and currently holds a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Since Hollywood can’t leave well enough alone, they’ve decided to remake the film for an American audience. The renamed “Let Me In” largely follows the general plot of the original with some subtle changes but despite playing second fiddle, this is an oddly sad and poignant horror romance which owes much to the strength of the source material. One of the best vampire films I've ever had the pleasure to see, director Matt Reeves has crafted a remake that does not sacrifice the integrity of the original to pander to a more mainstream audience and for that, I applaud him for keeping his promise.

Set in Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1983, a lonely twelve-year old boy named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is bullied at school while his parents are going through a divorce. With no friends, he spends his time spying on his neighbors until one night, a strange barefoot girl named Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz) moves into the apartment next door with her ‘father’ (Richard Jenkins). Owen is naturally drawn to Abby as she seems to be impervious to the cold and the two quickly strike up a friendship, as she offers him advice on how to fight back against his tormentors and communicating through the wall of their apartments with Morse code. Although Abby possesses the physical appearance of a twelve-year old girl, she is actually an ancient vampire that needs to consume human blood to survive, which is provided by her elderly companion who goes out every night to kidnap teenagers and drain them of their blood. These killings attract the attention of a detective (Elias Koteas), who suspects it to be the work of a satanic cult.

The title “Let Me In” is a reference to vampire folklore which states that a vampire cannot enter a person’s residence without being invited in first. Although fans of the original Swedish version may decry the changes, they are minor at best with the ambiguity of Abby/Eli’s gender removed and the relationship with the father made more palatable for American audiences but no less disturbing. The driving force between Owen and Abby is that the two suffer from extreme loneliness. His relationship with his mother is distant at best and Reeves films her in such a way that her features are blurred and indiscernible. Owen is desperate for any sort of human connection and becomes excited at the prospect of having a friend like Abby. Being twelve and at the cusp of puberty, he is unable to articulate his feelings but the bond he shares with Abby transcends a label such as love. To make it ‘official,’ Abby shows up in Owen’s room one night and sleeps with him unclothed. Obviously, there is no sex involved but it’s not all that hard to read between the lines. As for Abby and her older guardian, their relationship could be likened to that of a ‘long-time wedded couple who have grown apart during the many years they have spent together’ (James Berardinelli, ReelViews). When he fails to provide her with human blood, he wearily remarks that perhaps he wants to be caught and feeling left behind, requests that Abby stop seeing ‘the boy.’ I overheard one of the audience members remark that Abby was essentially using the boys she befriends to help her procure blood. While that’s a more cynical interpretation, I don’t believe that’s true. Being immortal, it’s only natural that Abby will come to grow weary and seek new companionship.

Reeves has chosen his two leads well and both bring a surprising level of maturity and talent to a film which could’ve been sanitized to make a quick buck. Kodi Smit-McPhee’s (last seen in 2009’s “The Road”) melancholy performance makes us empathize with his lonely existence as he lives in fear of being brutalized at school but comes into his own as he spends more time with Abby. He is initially shocked when he discovers that she is not what she appears to be and although we can tell that he is unable to come to terms with her violent nature, the fact that he cares for her and she for him overcomes any doubts that he may have had. Like “Kick-Ass,” the real star is Chloë Grace Moretz and she is quickly becoming a favorite amongst genre fans. Her Abby is vicious but she is also brave and confident, having accepted that her life is a constant battle for survival and that the only way to make this burden easier to have someone to spend her time with. Richard Jenkins only has a few lines of dialogue but how he came to know Abby is revealed in a key scene when Owen sees a faded photograph. Finally, there’s Elias Koteas as a detective who’s in way over his head and cannot fathom the horror that awaits him.

“Let Me In” doesn’t hold back with the gore as these aren’t your normal, everyday vampires that sparkle in the daylight. When Abby assumes her vampire form, her eyes glow a bright blue and takes on a discolored complexion, with her voice becoming an inhuman growl. She becomes little more than an animal when she feeds and in the film’s final scene, she eviscerates all of Owen’s attackers in a shower of severed limbs. The only weakness is the CGI but since it is used sparingly, it does not detract from the film.

“Let Me In” was released on October 1, 2010 and has received positive reviews with 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as the rare successful remake that has 'enough changes to stand on its own' without adding 'insult to inspiration.' The film competed with David Fincher’s “The Social Network” which took the number one spot with an estimated $23 million and although I had pegged this film to come in second, it flopped at the box office, coming in at a shockingly low eighth place with a paltry $5 million. Audience reaction was positive but a few muttered that the film was boring and openly mocked some of the more touching scenes. Granted, some may find the content disturbing or ‘wrong’ but mainstream American society is often way too uptight. “Let Me In” is an excellent vampire romance film and one could say that given their circumstances, Owen and Abby were destined to be together. This is the high standard that all remakes should set for themselves.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

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