Let the Right One In (2008)

There are two moments in Let the Right One In that are absolutely perfect both in simplicity and pure horror. Each involves an invitation delivered with innocence, friendship and playfulness, yet the answer to each invitation is shockingly deadly. You'll probably recognize those two moments when you see the film, but because the rest of the film is so stunningly good, it may be hard to isolate them.

Oskar is a twelve-year-old Swedish boy who endures bullies at school and an emotionally absent mother at home. One evening while playing outside he fantasizes about standing up to one of the school's toughest bullies when he meets a girl named Eli (pronounced "Ellie"). Strange that in the middle of winter, she's barefooted and hardly wearing any clothes at all as she sits atop a jungle gym, watching Oskar. As she jumps down (and you wonder for a second if she's jumping down or floating down), she immediately tells Oskar that they cannot be friends. Oskar is confused. He doesn't know she's a vampire, but we do.

Despite Eli's warning, the two do become friends. The problem is that Eli is the only friend Oskar has and he wants to know her better. Not in a sexual way; Oskar isn't there yet. He's as hungry for friendship as Eli is for blood. That yearning for friendship leads to the two moments I mentioned earlier. In an American film, those two moments would be telegraphed, set-up in a way that everyone in the audience would expect. Not so here. Maybe that's one reason they're so powerful.

This is the type of film you must see when you think "Well, everything with vampires that can be done has been done." Nope. It's just not true. Let the Right One In is one of those rare jewels that doesn't come along very often, a film that's beautiful and painful to look at, a film that explores friendship and hatred, suffering and understanding.



There are many touching scenes in the film, but remember, this is a horror movie. Blood, gore and violence are all present, make no mistake. If you think most horror films are simplistic and unintelligent, you owe it to yourself to see Let the Right One In. These two child actors are among the best I've ever seen, especially considering the complex emotions at play.