Let The Right One In
Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl
Dir: Tomas Alfredson
Rating: 4/5
Over the last couple of years we have had intelligent horrors such as The Devil's Backbone and The Orphanage from filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Juan Antonio Bayona which have been a refreshing change from the torture porn that studios insist on being released.
And now Sweden are getting in on the act with Let The Right One In, directed by Tomas Alfredson. The film received rave reviews on the festival circuit and is now here on DVD.
Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old outcast who is frequently picked on by his classmates. He dreams of getting his revenge, but he never stands up to the boys.
With the arrival of his new next-door neighbour, 12-year-old Eli (Lina Leandersson), Oskar may finally have found a friend, ally, and first love.
But Eli is no ordinary girl: she must keep her pale skin out of the sunlight, she can perform inhuman physical feats, and she has thirst for blood.
The bodies may have begun to pile up, but Oskar can't stay away from the girl who has finally given him courage.
If you are expecting a throat ripping vampire fest in the style of Blade then this really isn't the movie for you as Let The Right On In is an intelligent movie that looks into friendship, love and loneliness.
The central performance between the two main characters is out standing, both social outcasts, both feel like they don't fit in and when they find each other they cling onto their friendship.
And it's this growing friendship and first love is the central aspect to the movie that you almost forget that it's in the horror movie genre.
It's a very cold and still film about two incredible lost and lonely children and that bond that exists between them is very touching; she gives Oskar courage and Oskar gives Eli friendship and understanding.
Let The Right One In is a movie that slowly draws you in and you can't help care for these characters, especially Eli who is forced to commit murder in order to survive. And Alfredson beautifully contrasts the innocence of childhood with the bloody horror of murder.
Despite being a grim subject matter there is a sparse beauty to Let The Right One In that hasn't been seen in any other horror movie this year.
This film doesn't aim to shock with it's over the top horror and torture, as so many other films do in this genre at the moment, but it focuses on telling a simple story of friendship and acceptance in a great coming of age film.
It's fair to say that vampire movies have changed a lot over the years and instead of a shallow run of the mill movie you have in it's place a beautiful and touching piece of cinema that is an absolute must for any fans of this genre.
Let The Right One In is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw