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Let the Right One In (2008, Tomas Alfredson)
I've not read the source novel of the film, although given the time, I might consider it. This is probably one of the best vampire films I've ever seen. It ranks up there with both versions of Nosferatu, Shadow of the Vampire, and Near Dark. It has the gloom and drearyness of Interview With the Vampire, but leaves behind all the elaborate "prettiness" and pretencious sex appeal that comes with the whole vampire lore. Some people saw Twilight this year, but the lucky ones saw Let the Right One In. I have no use for a film like Twilight that masquarades itself as a vampire film, when it's really talking about teen abstinence. In Let the Right One In we get a 12 year old vampire. While she's lived much longer than that, she still has the mind of a 12 year old. Our human protagonist is also 12. They do not worry about such trivial things as sex or "Whether I should convert him over." Instead they focus on school bullies, rubix cubes, and neighbors with far too many cats.
After my girlfriend and I left the movie theater together (we watched this on Valentines Day) she commented, "That was the cutest vampire movie ever." I agree. It's also a great date movie no matter how old you are. Don't get me wrong, this is one of the most grim and somber experiences you'll have in the cinema, but there's a warm heart beating under the surface. We want these two desperately to be together.
I think restraint is the key word here. This film plods along at a slow pace, but we enjoy it. Watching the movie is like watching the first snow of the year fall at night. We sit back and enjoy the beauty of it. And as a Swedish film there is plenty of snow and rarely has snow been filmed so gorgeously. Both the leads are excellent. Eli the young girl vampire is played by Lina Leandersson. She has the perfect look and comes off as very natural. Her performance even outshines that of Kirsten Dunst's in Interview With the Vampire. It is more subdued. It doesn't help that she also resembles Audrey Tautou with the dark hair and huge brown eyes. Oskar, her new friend, is played by Kåre Hedebrant. In contrast to her dark features he is bleach blonde and blue eyes. How odd that the year's best film couple is a pair of 12 year old kids. Of course the idea of sex and romance do not come into play. This is an emotional relationship and one based on mutual need.
The ending could be debated. On the surface level it puts a smile on the viewer's face and seems optimistic. When thinking about the implications and the long term consequences for this couple, it might not be so optimistic. I think back to the middle aged character who supplied her with fresh blood. Is this who Oskar will become?
As of now this is the best film I've seen from 2008. Certainly it has none of the silliness of Twilight nor is it to be undermined and compromised by mass marketing.
Grade: A+
I've not read the source novel of the film, although given the time, I might consider it. This is probably one of the best vampire films I've ever seen. It ranks up there with both versions of Nosferatu, Shadow of the Vampire, and Near Dark. It has the gloom and drearyness of Interview With the Vampire, but leaves behind all the elaborate "prettiness" and pretencious sex appeal that comes with the whole vampire lore. Some people saw Twilight this year, but the lucky ones saw Let the Right One In. I have no use for a film like Twilight that masquarades itself as a vampire film, when it's really talking about teen abstinence. In Let the Right One In we get a 12 year old vampire. While she's lived much longer than that, she still has the mind of a 12 year old. Our human protagonist is also 12. They do not worry about such trivial things as sex or "Whether I should convert him over." Instead they focus on school bullies, rubix cubes, and neighbors with far too many cats.
After my girlfriend and I left the movie theater together (we watched this on Valentines Day) she commented, "That was the cutest vampire movie ever." I agree. It's also a great date movie no matter how old you are. Don't get me wrong, this is one of the most grim and somber experiences you'll have in the cinema, but there's a warm heart beating under the surface. We want these two desperately to be together.
I think restraint is the key word here. This film plods along at a slow pace, but we enjoy it. Watching the movie is like watching the first snow of the year fall at night. We sit back and enjoy the beauty of it. And as a Swedish film there is plenty of snow and rarely has snow been filmed so gorgeously. Both the leads are excellent. Eli the young girl vampire is played by Lina Leandersson. She has the perfect look and comes off as very natural. Her performance even outshines that of Kirsten Dunst's in Interview With the Vampire. It is more subdued. It doesn't help that she also resembles Audrey Tautou with the dark hair and huge brown eyes. Oskar, her new friend, is played by Kåre Hedebrant. In contrast to her dark features he is bleach blonde and blue eyes. How odd that the year's best film couple is a pair of 12 year old kids. Of course the idea of sex and romance do not come into play. This is an emotional relationship and one based on mutual need.
The ending could be debated. On the surface level it puts a smile on the viewer's face and seems optimistic. When thinking about the implications and the long term consequences for this couple, it might not be so optimistic. I think back to the middle aged character who supplied her with fresh blood. Is this who Oskar will become?
As of now this is the best film I've seen from 2008. Certainly it has none of the silliness of Twilight nor is it to be undermined and compromised by mass marketing.
Grade: A+