[MOVIE] Let the Right One In

[Emperor]

I have no idea when I will get to see this.  Netflix has no date for release and I never saw it in the theatres here (not even the independent small ones downtown). 

 

Oh, and do not expect this movie to be nominated for an Oscar... foreign or otherwise.  It is ok to blame Sweden for this because it is their fault for not offering up for consideration. 

 

I seldom write online reviews of films, though I love movies and see a lot of them. I regularly read your site, and consider it my frontline link to fresh news about films.

 

I'm a full time freelance Disney artist/writer, and am fairly discriminating when it comes to story. The last film that really knocked my socks to the degree that the the subject of this review does was Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings"...so this movie is really something special to me.

 

It's a little film. It lacks the huge budget of LOTR and is directed by some guy I never heard of in Sweden with two first time twelve year olds in the lead.

 

But you know what? "Let the Right One In" is an instant classic; one of those rare masterpieces that come out of nowhere, and is going to be remembered, I think, as one of, if not the very best, vampire movies of all time.

 

This is a seriously great film, not only in the horror genre, but compared to any movie.

 

This is the story of 12 year old bullied Oskar, who is angelically blonde and fair, and his newly moved in friend, Eli, who is raven haired, dark and mysterious.

 

These two tweens are kindred spirits. Oskar is very alone, with no friends. He is brutalized daily in school, his parents separated with problems that leave him quite without any meaningful relationships. He acts out getting revenge on his tormentors with a knife, but at the same time we see he is intelligent and very, very sensitive.

 

Eli has problems of her own. She has the confidence that Oskar lacks, but is even more desperate than poor Oskar for human understanding and companionship.

 

See, as Eli says in understated fashion, she has been 12 for "a long time".

 

This film is unique. It offers the viewer about as wide a breadth of feelings, of questions on the human condition, as any film in recent memory.

 

It does this with a touching, fragile and quite beautiful relationship between this hurt boy and this achingly lonely ageless girl.

 

The scenes between these two offered to this viewer the finest portrayal of the angst of growing up ever seen on the big screen.

 

These haunting and sad scenes are set between horrorific moments of mayhem and bloodshed. The resulting impact on the viewer is a mix of emotions. We find ourselves rooting for the protagonists, even if one of the them is a monster, and we are chilled even as we are sucked into their believable and poignant relationship.

 

This is a seriously difficult film.

 

I have not found myself pondering so many difficult and various conundrums, the likes of which this frankly brilliant film tasks me with, in a very long while.

 

In a world where awards programs aren't reliant on Hollywood glitz and big name actors, this movie could...actually, deserves, to win a many, many top awards.

 

The cinematography is isolated, geometric and stark. The shots are beautifully worked out, and often the more "action" oriented pieces are shot in ways surprising and original.

 

The CGI work is especially clever, subtle and unsettling, with the lead character, Eli's eyes sometimes seeming larger than they should, and her movements seem sometimes unearthly.

 

The sound work for Eli is among the finest horror work I've ever witnessed, with brilliant cat like stomach weirdness when the little girl is unfed. She is almost a muttering vampire-Popeye of Fleischer Studio's fame....with her underpinning of subtle growls, teeth grinding, smacking and general understated otherworldly noises escaping her left me afraid and breathless.

 

One has to give huge credit to Swedish director Tomas Alfredson for his brilliant handling of this material. The snow and ice laden setting seems to simplify the backgrounds, allowing us to more easily focus on the two protagonists. He relies heavily on their expressions and sounds in lieu of a lot of dialogue, which, of course, is the way real people actually communicate. This adds greatly to a feeling of their relationship being real.

 

The film builds over time, with both Oskar and Eli giving little bits of themselves to each other. A bond forms that seems sweet and doomed, until Oskar saves Eli, and Eli saves Oskar...or did they?

 

Are they cursed, or blessed? The real greatness to this wonderful, objectionable, no holds barred masterpiece of horror cinema is, there is no answer to the questions laid at our feet.

 

We each are forced into considering the plight of Eli and Oskar, and there is a great deal to think about. I've never felt this way before.

 

A priceless, uniquely sad movie on what it is to be a human being.

 

Guillermo del Toro describes "Let the Right One In" as 'as delicate, haunting and poetic a film as your ever bound to see'.

 

The Best Film of 2008.

 

 

[Cadsuane]

I'm with you, Emp. I want to see this and haven't found it available.

[Emperor]

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enjhW8AT5y4

[Emperor]

Released: 2009-03-10

[Silver]

2009? That the NA release date?

[Emperor]

Oh by the way this is on IMDB top 250 list at #193.

 

That is the DVD release. 

 

Original Theatre release date: 24 October 2008

 

It has only been released in the states in NY.

[Haxorsist]

I saw it the other day and it's one of my favourites of the year. Perhaps tied with Slumdog Millionaire as this year's best imo.

[Dunbar]

I saw this at BIFF (bergen international film festical) and it's quite an amazing film

 

that it wasn't nominated for an oscar is plain out idiotic, as I believe it would've stood a good chance of winning. I just hope the American remake doesn't butcher it...

One of my favourites this year as well, though I still hold the Wrestler at top spot, for now.

[Majsju]

According to the rules, it was released to late to be nominated for an Oscar.

[Emperor]

Ummm....errr....

 

You have to be wrong...

 

Sweden  26 January 2008 (Göteborg International Film Festival)

 

That in itself should be plenty of time.

 

No Sweden sent in ANOTHER movie for their country... something called Everlasting Moments.  Did you see this Maj/Hax?

 

It did make the short list so must be pretty good.

 

Here is the shortlist...

 

Revanche - Austria

 

The Necessities of Life - Canada

 

The Class - France (Winner of the Palm d’Or at Cannes)

 

The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany

 

Waltz with Bashir - Israel (Golden Globe winner for “Best Foreign Language Film”)

 

Departures - Japan

 

Tear This Heart Out - Mexico

 

Everlasting Moments - Sweden

 

3 Monkeys - Turkey

 

[Majsju]

The commercial release was november 24, and I think that is what they use, since the cut-off date is september 30.

 

Everlasting Moments (Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick) is a great movie, with an almost Bergmanesque feeling. In the Swedish movie awards recently, it got almost the same recognition as Let The Right One In. (Between them, these two movies claimed most of the awards, despite 2008 being a quite good year for Swedish films)

[Far Dareis Mai]

I saw this movie at a special screening in Ann Arbor, and to be perfectly honest, while I thought it was good...I didn't really think it was great. Perhaps I missed something in it, though.

[Emperor]

Reminder this comes out next week... EEEEE!!!

 

Oh and I just read the American version just started filming.  It is going to be named Let Me In.

[Haxorsist]

I bet it will be lame.

[Majsju]

And the butchering begins...

Imagine the day americans learns how to read well enough to be able to follow subtitles, it will be a revolution in their movie experiences ;D

[Naeann]

I have this on my netflix list too!!

[Majsju]

Oh joy, I just read that the redneck version will be directed by Matt Reeves...You know, the guy with the supermovie Cloverfield... ::)

 

Hope he dies in a brutal car crash, for doing this.

[Emperor]

I sent back two netflixes just in time to make sure I get this right away.  If Nae gets it first I will cry...

[Emperor]

And it is coming to my door tomorrow, review to follow.  I am also getting Rachel Getting Married which I am excited about too.

[Far Dareis Mai]

I really liked Rachel Getting Married. Hathaway's interpretation of an addict was spot on. She made me cringe the whole time.

[Emperor]

Is that actual Russian in your siggie?  *shakes head*

 

So I watched this last night.  I actually made the wife sit through it too.  I guess she wasn't as excited as I was. 

 

I am still trying to grasp all the hidden meanings and symbolism, but I am very positive about this movie.  While I am not sure I would rank it the top movie of 08 as some people might, it will be in my top 10 somewhere. 

 

At first I was put off by the ending... but when I put it in perspective with the entire film and realize what Oskar's destiny holds, I really appreciate it. 

 

I am giving this one a strong 4 out of 5. 

[Majsju]

Hidden meanings and symbolism? I thought the movie was quite clear. Granted, it takes place in the cultural context in which I grew up, so I have a bit of an advantage there. Also, I have read the book, which of course also helps.

 

Anything in particular you need help with?

[Naeann]

Sorry to revive a dead thread but I just watched this.  I had meant to put it at the top of my list and forgot.  I liked it... the subtitles weren't hard at all to follow for this american. :P  I'm not sure I liked the noises she made when she was hungry/etc..  sounded more like a whiney dog than the cat your reviewer suggested.

[Majsju]

sounded more like a whiney dog than the cat your reviewer suggested.

 

Dog/cat, can not see it really makes a difference. as long as you stay in the animal kingdom, and a species with a decent capacity for bloodthirst. And I loved those little noises. They act as a subtle reminder that despite the positive feelings one might get, she is in fact a monster.