I'm saying it, I don't care: Sweden sucks. Like, hardcore sucks: it snows all the time, the schools are cold brick and mortar buildings and have no windows and the kids are either brutal bullies, Death in Venice-like blonde satyrs or vampires. Let the Right One In tells the story of Oskar: a reculsive, incessently picked on 12 year old with not a lot going for him. The biggest problem in his life is Conny, who tortures our poor Oskar to no end, taunting him with calls of "Piggly wiggly" and whips him with a switch. After one bully session Oskar meets the slightly terrifying Eli, another 12 year old "child" who promplty tells him that they can't be friends. Oskar's reply: "what makes you think I want to be your friend?"
The tales of Oskar and Eli eventually meet up when Eli's guardian and sometimes butcher has an "accident" and Oskar finally realizes her true nature as a vampire. The all-encompassing love of children is protrayed beautifully here and Eli and Oskar share their deepest secrets and even a bed, but they aren't interested in each other in a sexual manner, they're just happy they finally have somebody who understands their prediciment. Much of their relationship is told in short, clipped declarative statements that are more truthfull than most films can hope to reach. The films strong suit is the odd dichotomy between the children and culiminates in one exceedlingly violent encounter in a bath house. It's nice to have a vampire on your side, isn't it?
Atmosphere reigns as snow is constantly falling and white drapes across everything. Director Tomas Alfredson uses the bleek, opressive landscape to share the childrens hopeless future. There are many long tracking shots where the camera is placed at odd angles, which gives the fim a definate off putting feeling. At times ,though, this effect is used too much and there are blocks of time that drag where we see close ups of people in deep, thoughtful poses. I like to think there is a moral in every story, and for this one: watch out who you pick on, because for all you know, their best friend is a murderous vampire (and oh boy does Eli kill A LOT of people).
Score: Four out of Five. Future watching: Pans Labyrinth, Labyrinth (the one with Jennifer Connelly), and Legend.
The tales of Oskar and Eli eventually meet up when Eli's guardian and sometimes butcher has an "accident" and Oskar finally realizes her true nature as a vampire. The all-encompassing love of children is protrayed beautifully here and Eli and Oskar share their deepest secrets and even a bed, but they aren't interested in each other in a sexual manner, they're just happy they finally have somebody who understands their prediciment. Much of their relationship is told in short, clipped declarative statements that are more truthfull than most films can hope to reach. The films strong suit is the odd dichotomy between the children and culiminates in one exceedlingly violent encounter in a bath house. It's nice to have a vampire on your side, isn't it?
Atmosphere reigns as snow is constantly falling and white drapes across everything. Director Tomas Alfredson uses the bleek, opressive landscape to share the childrens hopeless future. There are many long tracking shots where the camera is placed at odd angles, which gives the fim a definate off putting feeling. At times ,though, this effect is used too much and there are blocks of time that drag where we see close ups of people in deep, thoughtful poses. I like to think there is a moral in every story, and for this one: watch out who you pick on, because for all you know, their best friend is a murderous vampire (and oh boy does Eli kill A LOT of people).
Score: Four out of Five. Future watching: Pans Labyrinth, Labyrinth (the one with Jennifer Connelly), and Legend.
Ok, I definitely love the moral of this story. It sounds like a very interesting film.
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