LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (includes trailer)
November 4th 2010 23:04
Tomas Alfredson's 2008 film Let The Right One In is set in a characterless town in Sweden, so non-descript in fact, that you even sense it's soullessness. Let The Right One In first introduces us to a 12 year old child named Oskar. A young boy who sits on his own in the snow, lost in a world of emotional iciness, as far as we can see, Oskar's only friend is his father, that is when he even sees him, Oskar's parents are divorced and this seems to have left him invisible to the insulated community around him. His skin is as pale as the falling snow, and the only attention he receives are from three bullies who remain the bane of his existence. In his spare time Oskar fantasises about killing them, about inflicting the same kind of torture they do on him.
One day Oskar notices a smelly, androgynous girl staring right back at him, through the snow, witnessing his pretend acts of revenge. Her name is Eli and she's just moved in next door. Eli is an enigma, her bare feet and lack of history leave her just as isolated as Oskar. All we know about Eli is that the older man she came into town with, possibly a father or guardian maybe (who knows), is seen incapacitating teens and then draining them of their blood.
As Let the Right One In's chilly world opens it's arms up to us, so do Oskar and Eli to each other. They both have plenty to connect to each other with. It's not long before we figure out that we're watching a vampire film, but the chilly, emotional beauty of Let The Right One makes that seem almost incidental. Would Oskar still ask Eli to be his girlfriend if he knew what she really was? Probably.....besides, when Eli drops to her knees to lap up Oskar's blood that drips from his cut hand - the cat is pretty much out of the bag. We sense Eli's shame, it's an incredible moment where a surprising vulnerability is revealed which eschews the myth of the classic, blood sucking, creature of the night - eternity is Eli's curse to bare. Will these two be able to continue to share this unconditional bond with each other and how? The emotionalism in Let The Right One In is icy and unforced, and it's richness becomes more apparent through out.
The depth of emotion and poignance in Let The Right One In is astonishing. It's a film that explores the purity in a 12 year old child, as well as a poignant fairy tale of love. Where Matt Reeves American version of this same story, Let Me In (both based on John Ajvide Lindqvist's book), portrayed the love between these two prepubescent kids in the from of unpaved sexuality, Let The Right One In portrays a bond of love, untainted purity and friendship, with more mature and adult undertones waiting to be read between the lines of this sublime film.
What is apparent is that Eli's ability to only be with Oskar at night, at times, plays like the tale of his imaginary friend. Of course this isn't the case, Eli simply wishes to go undetected and be left in peace, the one grizzly time she does surrender to her thirst for blood, the result is problematic. Let The Right One In takes an enlightening approach to the super natural, making Eli seem just as vulnerable as Oskar. The fact remains, she can take care of her self, but she has a hunger for human warmth and seems to long for someone to be around - after all, eternity is a long time to be alone for.
Early on in the film, we become aware of Oskar's intellectual curiosity, and this is what makes everything in the film work so well, in that you never once feel disbelief in any of what is seen. There is a small moment involving some cats who attack an older woman that has been bitten by Eli, which employs noticeable CGI, but it's not as much a flaw as it is a restraint of the film's budget.
Stylistically, Let The Right One In's visuals adopt a gothic, desaturated, icy look, with all of it's colour drained, where even the fresh blood of Eli's victims appears blackened in the light. Let The Right One In manages to tread some eerie ground, and what makes it such a great film is that everything that would normally come across as visually disturbing, plays out instead as a different shade of the same beauty that defines the film. Let The Right One In is also stunning to watch, each element is right where it belongs. The film results in what feels effortless. It's pale, broody cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema (The Fighter, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) forms a bond with the production design to produce the cold resonant mood that carries the film in a sheath of dark tenderness. The film maintains it's restrained tone and many of the grizzly visuals are left to the imagination.
Let The Right One In pulls off a stunning revamp on this genre. All of the film's perfection stems from how masterfully each of it's fragile pieces are contolled and then magnificently layered together. Director Tomas Alfredson makes sure that the superantural remains secondary to the real story of these children. Oskar is played by Kåre Hedebrant and Eli is played by Lina Leandersson, and it's perfect casting on both accounts. These two child actors are both extraordinary and fully grasp the depth of this film. The fact that it's both their first film is even more impressive and I'm looking forward to see what they do next.
Let The Right One In feels like a rare and delicate creation that has been stunningly assembled. It's perfect fit of style and profound resonance haunts. This is a one of a kind film, and everything in it matches up in body and soul, while simultaneously delivering a breathtaking spin on a vampire tale that has has emotional relevance right through to the film's very core. A modern classic and truly something special.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I sometimes find it a challenge to express in mere words just how good some films are. This is one of those cases.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
gotta git mah ass down to the DVD shop an git me a copy..
(no, I do not know why I just tried to sound hilbilly American)
cheers
fog
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Hi Fogster - what are you waiting for??
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
You know my feelings on this and have read my review ....I like to think you checked it out on my urging, but I'm sure you would have discovered it on your own