LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Stars: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl, Karin Bergquist, Ika Nord
Year: 2008
Rating: R
(in Swedish w/English subtitles)

I had been very anxious to see this "vampire film" for some time, as last year it had appeared on many critics and viewers' lists of "best of 2008" - whether that best was for overall film ... or one of the "best vampire films ever made," as some have dubbed it. From Sweden, Let the Right One In tells the story of Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), a slight, quiet, and very vulnerable boy of twelve who has - for some time - been the target of some very abusive boys at school. Though he succumbs to the torment without comment or resistance, inside Oskar you can see a rage building; anger that may, one day, exhibit itself via the recently-acquired hunting knife the boy carries in his backpack.

But one early winter evening, Oskar sits alone at the play area outside of his apartment building, fantasizing of his brutal revenge on the school bullies and stabbing his knife repeatedly into a tree to vent his hostility ... when he meets Eli (Lina Leandersson), the pale, doe-eyed girl who's just moved in next door. And though each of the children is a loner at heart, it's obvious the two are interested in each other - and as a brutal serial killer (who kills only young boys, draining the blood from them before destroying their bodies to try and hide the mode of death) terrorizes the area of town outside Stockholm in which Oskar lives, the two children eventually become friends. And Oskar learns the reason Eli has "been twelve for a long time," and how she's able to face the cold winter air without a cold ... or access his room late at night through a second-story window.

I don't want to give away much more, but after seeing this film I admitted to - initially - a huge sense of disappointment. Almost ... of being cheated. But having had some time to think, I realize now that the problem stemmed from my approaching this as a "vampire film" - when, in reality, Let the Right One In is just so, so much more.

Gory? Yes - but not overly so, thanks to director Tomas Alfredson's shrewd decision to not dwell on the gore. Chilling - at times even scary? Yes; I definitely had one "holy CRAP!" moment in the film that made me jump a little in my seat.

But at heart, this film is about the relationship between a little boy being put-upon by the world - and the girl who teaches him to fight for himself. A little girl who just happens to be a vampire ... and, when she has to be, one hell of a vicious killer. The performances, particularly from the two young leads, are brilliant - and it's really their story, their relationship, that you want to focus on in order to enjoy this well-directed, visually engrossing (and moody) film the way it was intended (special note: I saw this on Netflix's "instant watch" function, and from what I understand this is the ONLY way you should see it; supposedly the subtitles were completely botched for the DVD release, angering fans who are waiting for a re-issue with the theatrical subtitles - which are what you will find on Netflix, IF you watch it online).

Vampire film fans won't be disappointed - unless you're solely used to the ultra-bloodshed of American-made vamp movies, or with vampirism being the entire focus of the story. Here, it takes a backseat to Oskar and Eli, and the odd little friendship formed that is both melancholy and intense ... and real. In that context, all the praise and accolades given to this film are more than deserved. **** - Reel Awesome